Longhorns drop games to Sidney, Ogallala

    The Chase County girls’ basketball team’s record evened to 2-2 last week after losses to Sidney and Ogallala.
    The Longhorns missed their chance for a win at home Friday against the undefeated Class B Red Raiders.
    CCS took a 10-5 lead, but Sidney scored the final four points  of the quarter leaving the Longhorns hanging on to a 10-9 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
    Although Sidney scored the first bucket of the second quarter and took a quick lead, Chase County responded to regain the lead. After the game was tied at 16, CCS closed out the half on a 5-1 run to take a 21-17 margin into halftime.
    Chase County got off to a slow offensive start in the second half. With five straight points by Sidney, the Longhorns found themselves trailing 21-22 with 4:45 left in the third quarter. After trading the lead back and forth, CCS hit a three pointer and a two point field goal in a 20 second span. Chase County traded a Red Raider free throw for a basket at the minute mark to earn a 30-25 lead going into the fourth quarter.
    A CCS basket increased their lead to 35-27 with 5:08 left in the game. It would be the Longhorns’ final points of the game. As Chase County tried to be patient and run time off the clock, Sidney scored the final nine points of the game.
After a Red Raider three pointer tied the game with 57 seconds left, a Sidney free throw with two seconds remaining handed CCS a 35-36 loss.
    Chase County Head Coach Alex McNair said his team defended well.
    The Longhorns missed some free throws and had costly turnovers at the end of the game, McNair said, adding those are things his team can  ourselves and will get fixed.
    The Longhorns tried to rebound from the loss the next night when they traveled to subdistrict opponent Ogallala (4-1).
    The Indians had other ideas, however.
    Chase County’s only first quarter points came from free throws, leaving CCS trailing 3-12 at the end of the first quarter.
    McNair said the Longhorns came out flat and struggled shooting the ball.
    His team seemed tired from the get-go and played a half step behind most of the night, he said.
    CCS cut the Ogallala lead to five points, 9-14, a minute and a half into the second quarter. A three-minute scoring drought gave the Indians a chance to extend their lead. Chase County trailed 15-28 at halftime.
    With five straight points to start the half, CCS cut its deficit to single digits, 20-28. The Longhorns couldn’t get any closer, but a late three pointer kept them within 10 points, 25-35.
    The cold shooting night continued into the fourth quarter. CCS didn’t score for the final 4:50 of the 29-47 loss.
Up next
    CCS looked to get back on track Tuesday at home against Sutherland (0-4) but winter weather postponed the game.
    Instead, two tough match ups lie ahead. Chase County will play at Class 2A #4 Wray (3-1) Friday.
    A trip to Class C1 #2  Bridgeport, also a subdistrict opponent, is on the schedule for next Thursday, Dec. 22.