A couple of 5 win teams battled in Alliance on Saturday. Alliance and McCook took to the court for a girl’s basketball contest. By jumping out to a big first period lead, it was the visiting Bison posting the win 57 to 40. McCook made four straight three pointers and led throughout. With the loss, the Lady Bulldogs now have a 5 and 17 record on the year. Top scorer for AHS was Reese Armstrong who tallied 11 points while Addison Weber scored 8. The Bison enjoyed a 17 point advantage at halftime and matched scores with the Bulldogs in the second half. Alliance did win the junior varsity battle, besting the Bison 38 to 27.
Hot shooting from behind the 3 point arc by the visitors put the hosts in a hole early in the contest. Action began with a 3 by the Bison and a 2 by Armstrong. Three consecutive treys by McCook ensued along with a 3 point play by the Bison which gave the guests a 15 to 2 cushion. Weber came with a three for the Dogs at the 4 minute mark but 4 straight by the Bison made it a 19 to 5 ball game. Quarter closed with 2 free throws by Alliance’s Hannah Benzel and a McCook bucket. After one, the Dogs were down 21 to 7.
McCook’s defense was solid in the second. AHS was held to just 2 buckets in the quarter. A free throw by Bulldog Brooke Bailey and a three pointer by Brinlee Lanik started the scoring for AHS. Up 16, the visitors extended its margin to 22 with 6 straight tallies. The half came to a finish with Alliance getting free throws by Armstrong and Paz Cody along with a hoop by Ande Girard. McCook took a 33 to 16 to halftime.
An early surge by Alliance helped the Dogs stay close in the third. An Armstrong deuce was followed by a trey by Weber as the Dogs kept in striking range. Three free throws by Armstrong plus a goal by Benzel made the score McCook 38 Alliance 26 with 4 minutes left in the period. Unfortunately, it was close as the Dogs would get. McCook ended the quarter by scoring 8 in a row that put the Bison out in front 48 to 26 with one period left to play.
Alliance enjoyed their best scoring period in the fourth, tallying 14 points. Freshman Aubrey Shrewsbury came off the bench and started the period with a 3. It was followed by a pair of free throws by Bailey and basket by Armstrong. McCook though answered back with a three, a 2 pointer, and a free throw to stay in the lead. AHS then got another free throw by Bailey and a Lanik hoop to made the board read McCook 54 Alliance 36 with under 2 minutes left. The contest closed with Bailey sinking 2 more free throws and a Weber basket at the buzzer. Final McCook 57 Alliance 40
MC 21 12 15 9 57
ALL 7 9 10 14 40
Scoring for the Lady Bulldogs Weber 8 Armstrong 11 Bailey 6 Lanik 5 Cody 1 Benzel 4 Girard 2 Shrewsbury 3.