Chase Co. loses to Bridgeport, wins holiday tourney opener

6-0, 8-1, 7-0. The records of the Chase County boys’ basketball team’s last three opponents speak for themselves. It’s been a tough couple weeks for the Longhorns.
CCS fell to 2-4 after a 43-57 loss to undefeated Bridgeport Dec. 22 before the Christmas moratorium started.
Clay Meeske hit three treys in the first quarter to help CCS to a 15-11 lead.
The Longhorns’ offense struggled in the second quarter. CCS traded four free throws by Jake German and Keenan Cole with baskets by Bridgeport early in the quarter. A three pointer by the Bulldogs tied the game and a conventional three point play gave Bridgeport the lead. After a basket by Mason Nordhausen, CCS didn’t score for the final 2:15 of the half and fell behind 21-26.
Chase County stayed within four points of Bridgeport for much of the third quarter after a Nordhausen three pointer opened scoring. Cedric Maxwell, Tysen Lempke, Cole and Meeske each found the bottom of the basket as CCS traded points with the Bulldogs.
A free throw each from Lempke and Nordhausen pulled CCS to within one point, 34-35, with a minute left in the third quarter. But the home team scored the final five points of the quarter to leave the Longhorns trailing 34-40.
The deficit increased to 40-51 with three minutes left in the game. Trailing 43-51 after a Lempke basket with 2:00 left, CCS sent Bridgeport to the line six times in the final minute of the game and the Bulldogs hit all six to hand Chase County the 43-57 loss.
Lempke and Meeske finished with 11 points to lead CCS. Meeske and Maxwell each pulled down five rebounds.
Bridgeport grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, compared to five for CCS, and took advantage by scoring 17 second chance points. The Longhorns only had two second chance points. While CCS only had three more turnovers than Bridgeport, Chase County also trailed in points off turnovers, 7-18.
Sidney Holiday Tournament
CCS opened the Sidney Holiday Tournament Monday with a strong, if short handed, win over Ord (1-5).

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