BASKETBALL: Cozad boys hold on to defeat McCook in overtime
COZAD — The Cozad Haymakers delivered an "edge of your seat" performance Thursday night at home, defeating Class B McCook 73-68 in overtime.
Cozad was led by senior Olliver Davis with a game-high 26 points. Chayden Hoffmaster chipped in 20 and Kellen Shoemaker added 19.
McCook's leading shooter was Trey Tiller with 27 points and seven 3s.
The night began with both teams trading baskets until Tiller knocked down back-to-back 3s, putting the Bison up 11-4.
Davis scored a basket that kicked off a 7-0 run for the Haymakers to tie the match at 11. Hoffmaster had three-straight points in the run.
The Bison interrupted the Haymaker run with a basket to gain a short lead before Cozad took the lead back after a Davis 3-point play and a Hoffmaster basket.
Cozad led 16-13 to start the second quarter.
A 3 from Tiller set the third tie of the match but Cozad went down to find Davis open for a 3.
Tiller's fourth 3 setup a 19-19 tie before the Haymakers used a 5-0 run to pull ahead 24-19.
A pair of free throws from Brody Graham cut the deficit back to three.
Cozad returned fire with a Hoffmaster basket, putting the Haymakers up 26-21.
Back-to-back 3-point plays from Kooper Rakes followed by a 3 from Tripp Raile gave the Bison a 30-26 lead.
The Haymakers returned a 9-0 run to gain the lead back 35-30 after Shoemaker scored a layup off a steal.
Tiller put up a contested, buzzer beating 3 at the half to tie the match at 35.
McCook kicked off the second half with a 7-0 run off a basket by Rakes.
Davis used a 3-point play to cut the deficit back to four at 42-38.
Down the stretch, both teams traded baskets before the Bison used a 6-0 run off two Raile baskets to extend their lead to seven.
Shoemaker scored the last Haymaker basket of the third, cutting the deficit back to five.
The Bison capped the third with a Graham basket to take a 55-48 lead.
As soon as the fourth quarter whistle blew, Cozad took control off a Shoemaker 3 followed by a basket to pull behind 55-53.
Davis followed with a basket off a steal for the tie at 55.
McCook popped out to a short lead after a Graham basket, but Hoffmaster returned his own for the first of four ties in the fourth.
Tiller knocked down his sixth 3 of the match, putting the Bison up 60-57.
Their lead was once again short lived after Shoemaker answered with his own 3.
A series of timeouts prolonged the final 40 seconds of the game.
Davis and Hoffmaster made a play on the ball to take the possession away from McCook with 3 seconds left.
Off an inbound pass, Shoemaker drove down to the half court line before firing up a shot that took a hard bounce off the rim to end regulation in a 62-62 tie.
McCook got the first shot off in overtime after Tiller hit is seventh 3.
Davis answered back with his own 3 before Hoffmaster scored, putting the Haymakers on top 67-65.
The score tied back up at 67 after Gage Strauss hit a basket with a minute left.
Cozad forced a McCook turnover to put the ball in the Haymakers' hands with 31 seconds left.
McCook started to slow the game down by fouling.
After a few fouls, McCook got their fifth foul that sent Julien Davis to the free throw line.
He knocked down both, giving Cozad a 71-67 lead.
The Bison had a chance to cut the deficit back to two with Graham at the free throw line, but he only made one.
Cozad had the ball with roughly 12 seconds left and Olliver Davis got fouled.
He put up the game winning free throws, awarding the Haymakers the 73-68 victory.
