CCS boys down Sutherland, beat Morrill in subs

    The Chase County boys’ basketball team lived to see another day with a 55-50 win over Morrill Monday night in Bridgeport.
    The win advanced the Longhorns on to a matchup with the top seed in the C2-12 subdistrict, Bridgeport (14-10) Tuesday evening.
    In the other half of the subdistrict, second-seeded Bayard (15-9) will take on third-seeded Perkins County (14-8).
    Winners of the Tuesday night games will play Thursday in Bridgeport.
    District boys’ games for Class C1, C2, D1 and D2 district games may be played Feb, 26, 28 or March 1.
    CCS grabbed a 10-8 first quarter lead against Morrill behind an eight-point first quarter by Ryan Bernhardt. Tysen Lempke added the Longhorns’ other basket.
    The second quarter remained close. Keenan Cole and Kade Anderson made 3s for Chase County to go with two-point field goals by Lempke and Cole. CCS held a 22-18 lead at halftime.
    The Longhorns didn’t find any breathing room in the third quarter, but did find points from a variety of players. Anderson, Emmitt Zuege and Lempke each chipped in baskets to go with six points from Nick Rau.
    The fourth quarter started with CCS still hanging on to a four-point lead, 36-32. Cole stepped up over the game’s final eight minutes, making two and three point baskets, plus 3-4 free throws. Rau, Lempke and Jensen Olsen added field goals, as well, and Bernhardt hit all four of his free throw attempts in the  fourth quarter to seal the 55-50 win.
    Cole and Bernhardt each scored 13 points to lead CCS. Rau also finished in double figures with 10 points. Lempke added nine points.
    Rau pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Anderson and Lempke each had seven boards.
    The Longhorns only made 3-16 three point attempts, but did hold an advantage in the free throw department. CCS made 12-21 free throws compared to 8-12 by Morrill.
    Chase County also help a 18-0 advantage in transition points and 14-4 advantage in points off turnovers after forcing 15 Lions’ turnovers.
Sutherland
    Everything went the Longhorns way last Friday in Sutherland.
    Chase County held the Sailors to one first quarter field goal and three free throws. Offensively, seven Longhorns scored in the first quarter. Anderson made two 3s on his way to 10-first quarter points. Olsen and Lempke each scored four points.
    Holding a 28-5 lead, CCS took its foot off the gas in the second quarter. Even though scoring slowed, points were spread between five different Longhorns. Bernhardt made two field goals and CCS also got buckets from Zuege, Camron Lempke and Rau to give it  a 40-12 halftime lead.
    Anderson made two three pointers in the third quarter and headed to the bench with the rest of the Longhorns’ starters for the fourth quarter. Anderson led the Longhorns with 17 points.
    Zuege rattled in a three pointer in the fourth quarter. Olsen added two more baskets on his way to 10 points on the night. Rau stayed in the game for the fourth quarter adding another basket to give him eight points.
    Thirteen Longhorns saw action in the 61-23 win.
    Anderson grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and C. Lempke pulled down six rebounds.
    Chase County made 6-10 free throws in the game and Tristan Jablonski made 4-6 for the Longhorns.
    Overall, CCS had 44 rebounds to 17 for Sutherland.
    Chase County dominated across the board, leading in transition points, 18-0, points off turnovers, 23-7, second chance points, 23-2, and points in the paint, 34-8.