CCS boys split with Dundy County Stratton, Kimball

    The Chase County boys’ basketball team picked up its third win of the season Saturday, but not before tallying its eighth loss in a game against Dundy County Stratton.
    Playing in Benkelman Jan. 4, the Tigers took it to CCS early. The Longhorns trailed 0-6 before scoring their first points of the game, an offensive rebound and put back by Tysen Lempke two minutes into the contest.
    The Longhorns went another two minutes before adding their second basket, this one by Ryan Bernhardt on a fast break. Once more it was two minutes before CCS points, this time on a free throw by Jensen Olsen which he matched with 1:20 left in the first quarter to leave Chase County trailing 6-13 at the end of the first quarter.
    Scoring picked up slightly for CCS in the second quarter behind six points by Olsen, but the Tigers ran wild and put 25 points on the board. CCS trailed 16-38 at halftime.
    DCS took its foot off the gas in the second half as scoring continued to be an issue for the Longhorns.
    Chase County made as many points off free throws as baskets in the third quarter. Kade Anderson and Keenan Cole each made a field goal while Bernhardt, Cole and Nick Rau combined to make 4-5 from the charity stripe.
    Bernhardt broke free for two fourth quarter three pointers on his way to a team-high nine points. Anderson, Lempke and Cole added late field goals in the 36-59 loss.
    Olsen scored eight points and Cole added seven.
    The Longhorns took their frustrations out on Kimball Saturday.
    CCS took a 6-0 lead before Kimball got on the board with a fast break. The Longhorns continued to roll from there, taking a 20-8 lead into the second quarter.
    Only allowing early and late baskets by Kimball, CCS increased its lead to 40-12 at halftime behind its big men. Olsen scored nine straight points and Rau had a nice quarter, as well, scoring six.
    The Longhorns opened the second half with a 12 point run which included layups by Lempke, Anderson and Tristan Jablonski to increase the CCS  lead to 57-12.
    With the clock running for the rest of the game led 60-16 at the end of the third quarter.
    CCS Head Coach Chris Bartels cleared the bench in the fourth quarter and the young Longhorns still outscored Kimball 15-9 down the stretch in the 75-25 win.
    Olsen led CCS with 16 points.  Anderson totaled nine points and Lempke, Ben Skeels and Rau each added eight points. Rau nabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
    Overall, 11 of the 12 Longhorns suited up scored.
    The Longhorns pulled down 29 offensive rebounds and out rebounded Kimball 44-25. That led to 32 second chance points, compared to two by Kimball. Chase County also forced 36 turnovers which led to 42 points.
Up next
    CCS took its 3-8 record on the road to 3-7 Southern Valley Tuesday.
    The Longhorns will travel to 7-3 Perkins County Thursday before hosting 4-7 Gothenburg Friday.
    The SPVA tournament will run the week of Jan. 17.
    Looking at the point standings as of Tuesday, CCS is currently sitting third in the conference standings behind St. Pat’s and Perkins County.