CCS boys open with two wins

Though the Chase County boys’ basketball team opened the season 2-0, Head Coach Chris Bartels says his team has a lot of work ahead of it.
Bartels said being undefeated after the first weekend is obviously the best spot his team could be in.
“I am definitely happy that we played well enough to win both of those games, but we definitely have a lot to improve on going into our games this weekend,” he said.
CCS will face Sidney Friday and travel to Ogallala Saturday.
Hosting Haymakers
CCS opened the season with a 68-50 win over Cozad at home last Thursday.
The Longhorns jumped out to an 8-0 lead. Cozad scored five-straight points before CCS closed the quarter on a 7-0 run.
CCS opened up a double-digit lead early in the second quarter on a three pointer by Keenan Cole. CCS went on to hold a 28-15 lead before a Mason Nordhausen three pointer with one second left finished off the half.
Despite the long range buckets—CCS had five 3s in the first half—Bartels said it was the defense that set the tone early.
Cozad “struggled to score for the majority of the first half, which allowed us to have a double digit lead by half time,” he said.
Each team scored 35 points in the second half, as CCS earned the 68-50 win.
Bartels credited his team with doing a good job of creating and making open shots, but thought they got a little impatient offensively and took too many quick shots in the second half.
“Shot selection is one of those areas we are looking to improve on this week,” he said.
Cedric Maxwell and Clay Meeske finished in double figures for CCS with 24 and 15 points, respectively. The pair combined to make 11 of 21 three pointers. Maxwell made 10-14 free throws and Meeske 2-3, as the Longhorns tallied 16-27 on the night. Maxwell rounded out a double-double with 10 rebounds and led CCS with six assists.
Travel to McCook
Bartels said he didn’t know much about the Bison going into Friday’s match up, but expected McCook to play an up tempo game.
“We ended up matching up to them very well height and athleticism wise,” Bartels said.
Meeske and Maxwell set the tone for the Longhorns early in the game, combining for the first 13 points for CCS. Lempke added a three pointer to help the Longhorns double up the Bison, 16-8.
Maxwell knocked down three baskets in the second quarter and Jake German put one in from the floor, but the team only made 3-9 free throw attempts, and held a 33-15 halftime lead.
Nordhausen had a big third quarter for the Longhorns, pouring in eight of his team’s 16 points.
Heading into the fourth quarter, CCS continued the theme from the night before. The Longhorns put an emphasis on passing up “good shots” for “great shots” in its half court offense, Bartels said, and with a double digit lead, there was no reason to hurry on offense.

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