OGALLALA – The Cozad boys basketball team won a tight game on Thursday night in the C1-11 Subdistrict Final against Ogallala, defeating the Indians 61-59 to advance to their first District Final since 2019.
Ogallala jumped on Cozad early, getting out to a lead in the first. Monty Brooks-Follmer scored five points in the first to help Cozad stay in it, and they only trailed by four after one. The Haymakers outscored the Indians by two in the second quarter thanks to six second quarter points from Kellen Shoemaker, and were down 27-25 at the break. Ogallala had all eight players that took the floor in the first half score.
The third quarter was high flying. Ogallala outscored Cozad 20-19 in the period. Both Noah Shoemaker and Mason Fales had seven points in the third for Cozad, while Sawyer Smith for Ogallala scored six third quarter points. Cozad then jumped on Ogallala early in the fourth quarter, and held a five point lead. Ogallala would then close the gap thanks to ten fourth quarter points from Smith, and at one point tied the game at 57. Then with under a minute to play, Noah Shoemaker would hit a right wing three to give Cozad a late lead. Thanks to a made free throw, and a defensive stop with nine seconds left in the game, the Haymakers held on to win 61-59.
Ogallala was led by Smith who finished with 22 points. The Indians were 7-10 from the free throw line and committed six turnovers. Cozad was led by Noah Shoemaker, who finished with 21 points. The Haymakers were 10-18 from the free throw line and had eight turnovers.
Cozad improves to 22-4, while Ogallala falls to 21-4. Both teams will be in a District Final.
KRVN’s Jon Willis spoke postgame with Cozad head coach Nick Broz.
Listen to the game here.
