Longhorn girls run record to 14-6 with two wins

    The Chase County girls’ basketball team rolled to wins over Haxtun, Colorado and Hershey last week.
    After a close first half, CCS overwhelmed Haxtun in the second half Jan. 25.
    The Longhorns made more free throws than baskets in the first quarter. Morgan Peterson started off CCS scoring with a three pointer. Bryn McNair soon followed with Chase County’s only other basket. The Longhorns sunk 4 of 8 from the charity stripe and held a slight  9-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
    CCS started to pull away before halftime. B. McNair scored eight points in the second quarter to go with baskets by Jordan Jablonski and Landree McNair. Between B. McNair and Lucy Spady, CCS made all four free throw attempts en route to a 23-15 halftime lead.
    A solid defensive effort put the game away after halftime. The Longhorns only gave up a free throw in the third quarter and nine points in the fourth quarter. Offensively, Jerzee Milner scored eight of her nine points in the third quarter. Jablonski, B. McNair and L. McNair added second half three pointers in the 49-25 win.
    McNair scored 19 points in the game. Spady grabbed a team high 13 rebounds, while McNair snagged 10 boards.
    CCS pulled down 18 offensive rebounds in the game and forced 30 turnovers.
    The Longhorns also made more free throws, 13, than Haxtun attempted, 12.
    Saturday, Hershey was in town for a SPVA consolation game rematch.
    CCS Head Coach Randy Longoria said the Longhorns were better prepared in this game, but were surprised when Hershey came out in a 2-3 zone defense.
    Back-to-back 3s by Jablonski helped CCS to a 13-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
    Though the Longhorns limited Hershey to three field goals in the second quarter, the Panthers made 6-11 free throws. On the offensive end L. McNair knocked down a three pointer and Milner, Peterson, Spady and B. McNair contributed field goals.
    Coming out of the locker room after halftime leading 26-19,CCS got more long range 3s from Jablonski and L. McNair. With four points also coming from B. McNair, the Longhorns headed into the fourth quarter with a 36-25 advantage.
    Chase County finished the game off with a good defensive effort, holding the Panthers to one field goal and a free throw over the game’s final eight minutes. On the offensive end Milner and Jablonski tossed in three pointers to go with six points by B. McNair and a bucket by Peterson to finish off the 50-28 win.
    McNair finished with 17 points, Jablonski added 12.
    Peterson had a team-high seven assists.
    CCS held Hershey to 0-11 on three point shooting and an effective field goal percentage of 23.1%.
    The Longhorns also outscored Hershey 15-2 on points off turnovers.
Up next
    With four games remaining on the Longhorns’ regular season schedule, Longoria said CCS wants to win out and set itself up well for the postseason.
    “We want to stay even keeled and play our best games with no lulls,” Longoria said.
    CCS (14-6) was at Yuma, Colorado Tuesday. The week will round out with a trip to 12-6 North Platte St. Pat’s for a SPVA semifinal rematch.
    On Feb. 8 Hitchcock County (7-10) will come to Imperial. A trip to Gering (9-7) will be Feb. 12.
Class C1 Point Standings—1. North Bend Central (17-1), 45.8889; 2. Broken Bow (16-3), 45.3158; 3. Lincoln Lutheran (16-2), 45.0000; 4. Wahoo (14-4), 44.8333; 5. Gothenburg (13-5), 44.7778; 6. Grand Island Central Catholic (13-5), 44.3333; 7. Chadron (11-6), 44.0588; 8. BRLD (13-4), 43.8824; 9. Malcolm (15-3), 43.4444; 10. David City (15-3), 43.4444; 11. Chase County (14-6), 43.4000; 23. Mitchell (9-11), 41.8500; 24. Hershey (12-7), 41.7895; 37. Ogallala (5-13), 39.4444. Subdistrict C-12 in bold.