Chase Co. girls finish season at 16-6 record

While the season may not have ended the way many had hoped, Chase County’s girls’ basketball coach Randy Longoria had nothing but high regard for his 2020-2021 squad.
“I loved this team. Their hard work, willingness to prepare and game plan execution aside, they were such a fun group,” Longoria said.
That team attitude was enjoyable for the coach.
“I loved all the practice and preparation time with the girls; all of the strategizing and planning that went into each game and seeing those concepts put into play,” he said, adding, it would be difficult to name one favorite game or moment.
“There were simply too many. It was such a fun season,” he said.
Seniors Alexis Richmond and Kora Weiss led the team.
“Alexis and Kora, throughout the season, have been the embodiment of senior leadership and play,” Longoria said.
From their a blue-collar, baseline to baseline, “Yes, sir, I can do it” attitude; unwavering examples of hard work and preparedness; an enveloping desire, evident in their actions, to have the team moving in the right direction with regard to respect, positivity and accountability, Longoria said the pair will be sorely missed.
Richmond finished the year with 45 three pointers, a new school season record. She averaged 14.6 points per game and 5.2 rebounds while hitting over 70% of her free throws.
Longoria compliments Richmond’s inside and outside abilities.
Weiss was in the starting line up throughout the season and, despite her 5’1” stature, was counted on for her defense, rebounding and critical offensive baskets, according to Longoria. Weiss averaged 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 points.
Longoria also compliments this season’s strong group of underclassmen, especially starters Jerzee Milner, Jordan Jablonski and Bryn McNair.
McNair led the team with an average of 16.5 points and 10 rebounds per game, while totaling team highs with 61 steals and 50 blocks.
As point guard, Jablonski averaged 3.1 assists per game to lead CCS while also finishing third on the team in rebounding.
Milner was close behind Jablonski in total assists and the juniors each finished with at least 50 steals.
Richmond, Jablonski, McNair and Milner each played over 600 minutes for the squad.
CCS finished the season 16-6.
The Longhorns’ December schedule was filled with Class B, C1 and C2 opponents. CCS split games with McCook, and fell to Sidney (18-6), Bridgeport (23-3) and Ord (16-6). Sidney and Bridgeport will both be in Lincoln this week for the state tournament.
The new year started off with a six-game winning streak, before a second loss to Bridgeport in the semifinals of the SPVA tournament. The Longhorns rebounded for a third place finish in the tournament.
Three games were canceled  late in the season, one against Haxtun, Colorado and two when extreme cold weather led to cancellations against Wray, Colorado and Cambridge right before subdistricts.
After winning its opening game in the C1-11 subdistrict, the season ended with a home court loss to Gothenburg (16-9).
Longoria said his team’s defense was the most improved aspect over the course of the season.
“The biggest phase in our growth as a team occurred in the month of January when time and effort put into our man-to-man defense came to fruition,” Longoria said.
As that improvement came, the Longhorns’ strategy changed, with a heavy emphasis, 100% in many games, on half-court, man-to-man defense.
With the season over, Longoria said he looks forward to what will, hopefully, be a COVID-free off-season to work with all of the returning players toward next year’s season.