Osceola, McCool Junction claim CRC Titles

Osceola, McCool Junction claim CRC Titles
January 28th, 2023 | Max Country/KOOL Radio Sports

Championship Friday of the CRC saw two new champions as McCool Junction took down Meridian in girls while Osceola ran away from Cross County in boys.

The girls game between the Meridian Mustangs and McCool Junction Mustangs was a very close battle from the tip. Neither team saw a lead of more than four throughout this battle but Meridian had the upper hand after the first quarter leading by two. The second quarter saw an even talley as both teams put up eight points a piece as the Mustangs of Meridian took a 17-15 lead into the break.

The third quarter saw McCool Junction on the heels of leading scorer McKenna Yates who had 20 on the night, score two more points than Meridian to tie the game into the fourth. The fourth quarter was a heavyweight fight as the teams went back and forth. McCool Junction had a chance to win on a three quarter court heave that came up just short to leave the game tied at 29 heading into overtime.

The sold out crowd saw a wild battle with Yates hitting the game winner with eight seconds left to secure McCool Junctions first CRC title since 2000.

Meridian scoring: Jaylee Sobotka 10, Taelyn Filipi 9, Jaslyn Ward 5, Kaira Niederklien 2, Jayla Stewart 2, Ana Deemas 2, McKenzie Hofsetter 2

McCool: Shelby Bandt 6, BriAnn Stutzman, 4, McKenna Yates 20, Claire Brugger 5.

The boys CRC title game was a rematch of last year’s overtime thriller between Cross County and Osceola. The first quarter showed why there was not a seat open in the York City Auditorium as the game was tied 8-8 after the first stanza. The second quarter was much of the same but Cross County, led in scoring by Ashton Seim with 12, took a two point lead into the half. Leading by a score of 23-21. The third quarter was a repeat of the second quarter but Osceola, led in scoring by Isiah Zelasney, who finished with a game high 32, cut into the lead by one with the score being 34-33 with Cross County in the lead. Osceola showed why they came into the day third in wild card points as on the back of Kale Gustafson who finished with 14, outscored Cross County 22-13 to take their second title in three years by a score of 55-47.

Cross County scoring: Ashton Seim 12, Alex Noyd 10, James Elgin 9, Tanner Hollinger 8, Tobey Waller 2

Osceola scoring: Isiash Zelasney 32, Kale Gustafson 14, Kelby Neujahr 5, Kolton Neujahr 4

In the consolation third-place games, the Cross County girls beat BDS 42-39, and Nebraska Lutheran beat BDS boys 51-48.

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