Runner-up finish at Sidney goes to Chase County girls

    Sidney continues to be a thorn in the side of the Chase County girls’ basketball team.
    The Longhorns won games against Gordon-Rushville and Torrington, Wyoming at last week’s Cabela’s Holiday Shootout in Sidney, but fell to the hosts, Chase County’s second loss to Sidney this year, in the finals.
    CCS opened the tournament with a 52-30 win over Gordon-Rushville.
    The Longhorns defense held Gordon-Rushville to two free throws in the first quarter. Offensively, Jordan Jablonski and Bryn McNair made three pointers as CCS jumped out to a 13-2 lead.
    McNair and Lucy Spady hit two point field goals to go with a three pointer by Morgan Peterson in the second quarter. Spady made 2-4 free throws and McNair 4-8 in the quarter, as well. CCS led 26-15 at halftime.
    The Mustangs sent McNair to the line four times in the third quarter. The junior made two attempts and added a three pointer and two two-point field goals in the quarter to go with one field goal by Spady.
    Leading 37-22 entering the fourth quarter, McNair scored eight more points on her way to 32 in the game. Jerzee Milner and Spady also added field goals to wrap up the win.
    McNair tallied seven blocks and 10 rebounds. Spady added eight points and nine rebounds.
    Chase County moved on to the championship game after a 45-39 win over Torrington.
    Both teams got off to slow starts offensively. McNair sandwiched baskets around a Milner three pointer for CCS. McNair converted a free throw on one of her baskets for a three-point play to give CCS an 8-5 lead after the Longhorns held Torrington to one first quarter field goal.
    One Blazer scored all nine of Torrington’s second quarter points. McNair nearly matched her effort scoring eight of Chase County’s nine second quarter points.
    Three treys by Jablonski and one from Milner gave CCS some breathing room in the third quarter. McNair added four points as the Longhorns increased their lead to 33-26.
    McNair and Spady each made a field goal in the fourth quarter.  From there, CCS got the job done at the free throw line. Behind 8-12 shooting at the charity stripe, the Longhorns took the six-point win.
    McNair scored 24 points to pace CCS and pulled down 10 rebounds. Jablonski finished with nine points.
    The Longhorns lost to Sidney 50-53 Dec. 10 and came out of the short side of the stick once more in the tournament championship game.
    The Raiders jumped all over CCS early, putting 19 points on the board while holding the Longhorns to three baskets by McNair.
    Chase County cut into the lead in the second quarter. McNair scored nine points and Spady added a basket. CCS trailed 17-25 at halftime.
    Spady and McNair added two-point field goals in the third quarter to go with a three pointer by Milner.
    Sidney increased its lead throughout the second half. McNair added three points in the fourth quarter on her way to a team-high 20 for the game to go with 14 rebounds.
    Olivia Spady and Landree McNair came off the beach to add baskets in the final minutes of the 34-48 loss.
Up next
    CCS (7-3) began a two-week stretch of away games Tuesday with a trip to Benkelman for a game against winless Dundy County-Stratton.
    Saturday the Longhorns will be at 3-3 Kimball.
    Next week, CCS will travel to Southern Valley (5-4) Jan. 11 then to Perkins County (5-3) Jan. 13.
    The Longhorns return home Jan. 14 when they host 6-3 Gothenburg.