Longhorns win subdistrict opener at Chadron

    The Chase County girls’ basketball team’s path through the postseason took an unexpected turn after Tuesday night’s games at Chadron.
    Hershey, as the fourth seed, beat Ogallala, the fifth seed, in Hershey Monday night.
    The Panthers (20-7) opened Tuesday night’s games with an upset of top-seeded Chadron on the Cardinals home court, 56-41.
    With Chase County’s 42-28 win over third-seeded Mitchell at Chadron Tuesday, the Longhorns and Panthers are set to meet for the third time this season Thursday.
    The NSAA listed Thursday’s game at Hershey, but CCS officials said no decisions had been made as of Wednesday morning.
    District games will be played Feb. 25
    CCS beat Hershey 58-43 in the consolation game of the SPVA tournament Jan. 22, then beat the Panthers in Imperial a week later, 50-28.
    The Longhorns’ subdistrict game against Mitchell got off to a slow start. CCS only managed nine first quarter points thanks to four points by Bryn McNair, a three pointer by Morgan Peterson and a two point bucket by Landree McNair. Despite the low output, CCS still held a seven-point lead after Mitchell only made one basket in the first quarter.
    Jerzee Milner made two 3s in the second quarter for Chase County, but a bucket by B. McNair was the only other points CCS managed to score. Mitchell made four two-point baskets over the same time period.
    CCS came out from halftime with a 17-10 lead and wasn’t able to put much more distance between themselves and the Tigers in the third quarter. B. McNair scored six of Chase County’s 10 third quarter points. Milner added a field goal and Peterson tossed in two free throws. The Longhorn lead grew to 27-18 after CCS only allowed eight points by Mitchell.
    The game’s last quarter was Chase County’s best eight-minute offensive effort. Milner drained her third three pointer of the night and Peterson followed it with back-to-back field goals. Free throws by Milner led into another Peterson basket. B. McNair and Jordan Jablonski rounded out the 42-28 win with free throws.
    B. McNair led the Longhorns in scoring with 15 points, but Milner was hot on her heels with 13 points. Peterson also finished in double figures with 11 points.
Final regular season games
    Chase County’s seniors played their final home game Feb. 8 against Hitchcock County (8-14)
    CCS trailed 4-5 with two minutes gone in the game, but the Longhorns went on a 10-4 run and took a 14-9 lead. Hitchcock County decreased the CCS lead to 16-12 with two minutes left in the first quarter. The Longhorns scored the final eight points of the quarter and held a 24-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
    Chase County’s defense held Hitchcock County to baskets at the 6:47 and 3:06 in the second quarter. Between those shots, CCS ran its lead to 30-16 and finished the half with a 38-16 advantage.
    The teams traded free throws over the first minutes of the second half and didn’t score a bucket until the 4:15 mark. CCS was content to spread its offense out and move the ball around in the second half of the  60-30 win.
    B. McNair scored 26 points for CCS. Milner scored 11 points. Peterson grabbed five offensive rebounds.
    The Longhorns held Hitchcock County to no transition points and only three points off turnovers.
    Saturday CCS played Gering (12-10) for its final regular season game.
    The Longhorns led 6-5 with 4:55 left in the first quarter, but went on a six-point run. A Gering turnover with 2.3 second left in the first set up a B. McNair buzzer beating three pointer from just across half court.
    CCS opened the second quarter with a 7-2 run, but saw its 24-9 lead dwindle to 29-23 at halftime.
    Gering continued to nibble away at the CCS lead in the second half, cutting it to 41-36 entering the fourth quarter.
    After four straight points by Gering, CCS found its lead cut to 41-40 with 5:28 remaining. The Longhorns opened up a 46-40 lead, but soon found the score tied at 46. Only scoring one point over the final two minutes, CCS lost the game 47-50.
    B. McNair scored 22 points and had 15 rebounds for the Longhorns. L. McNair also finished in double figures with 10 points.
    CCS made six three pointers compared to three by Gering, but the home team was 13-20 from the charity stripe compared to 7-13 for the Longhorns.
    CCS pulled down 21 offensive rebounds, but only scored eight second chance points.