A high-scoring district semifinal saw the Alliance boys’ basketball team fall to McCook 91-77 on Wednesday, despite a valiant comeback effort. The Bulldogs trailed by 20 points in the second quarter but fought back to tie the game twice in the third period. However, McCook’s 17 free throws in the fourth quarter sealed the victory, ending Alliance’s season with a 13-11 record. The game, part of the Class B Sub-District 8 tournament, was played in Scottsbluff between the third-seeded Bulldogs and the second-seeded Bison. Junior Espen Lanik led Alliance with 23 points, while seniors Seth Meyring and Trevor Zurn added 18 and 16 points, respectively.
McCook set the tone early, hitting six three-pointers in the first quarter to take a 26-17 lead. Lanik opened the scoring with two free throws, and a basket by Payton Boyer gave Alliance a brief 4-3 advantage. However, back-to-back threes by McCook put the Bison ahead 9-4. The teams traded baskets, with Boyer hitting a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 11-9. McCook responded with a 5-0 run, but Meyring and Jaden Guerra kept Alliance within striking distance. The quarter ended with McCook leading 26-17 after a flurry of three-pointers from both teams.
The Bulldogs mounted a comeback in the second quarter, outscoring McCook 25-21 to narrow the gap. Boyer opened the period with a basket, but McCook extended their lead to 35-19 with an 8-0 run. Alliance responded with a 16-2 surge, fueled by three-pointers from Lanik, Meyring, and Creighton Fritzler, as well as four free throws from Lanik. The run brought the Bulldogs within six points at 43-37. Zurn added two late baskets, but McCook maintained a 47-42 lead at halftime.
Alliance continued to battle in the third quarter, outscoring McCook 13-12. Zurn opened the period with a basket, and Meyring’s scoring kept the Bulldogs close. A technical foul on McCook sent Lanik to the line, where he sank both free throws, cutting the deficit to one. Meyring then electrified the crowd with a steal and a thunderous dunk, bringing Alliance within two. Zurn’s three-pointer tied the game at 53, but McCook closed the quarter with a 6-2 run to take a 59-55 lead into the final period.
McCook pulled away in the fourth quarter, scoring 32 points to Alliance’s 22. An early three-point play by the Bison extended their lead to seven, and despite baskets from Zurn and Guerra, McCook maintained control. Meyring and Zurn combined for seven points to cut the deficit to six, but McCook’s free-throw shooting proved decisive. The Bison hit six straight free throws to push their lead to 79-73. Lanik and Meyring kept Alliance alive with key baskets, but McCook closed the game with an 8-0 run, including eight more free throws, to secure the 91-77 victory.
Scoring Summary:
ALL: 17 | 25 | 13 | 22 — 77
MCC: 26 | 21 | 12 | 32 — 91
Bulldogs Scoring:
Espen Lanik: 23 points
Seth Meyring: 18 points
Trevor Zurn: 16 points
Payton Boyer: 9 points
Jaden Guerra: 6 points
Creighton Fritzler: 3 points
Braeden Clarke: 2 points
The game marked the final high school appearance for seniors Seth Meyring and Payton Boyer.