Gottlob’s big game helps MCM past McLaughlin

The McCook Central/Montrose boys’ basketball team held off a furious McLaughlin fourth-quarter rally to claim a 65-52 win at the Dakota Wesleyan University Classic held Saturday at the Corn Palace.

The Fighting Cougars, ranked third in Class A, led 50-33 in the third quarter and went into the final period with a comfortable 50-36 advantage.

That’s when McLaughlin’s Hank Taken Alive took over. Taken Alive scored the next 12 points, while McCook Central/Montrose scored two points. In a matter of three minutes, McLaughlin pulled within 52-48.

McCook Central/Montrose coach Bill Marquardt called a timeout, which seemed to calm his team down and cool off the red-hot Taken Alive.

“We gave (Taken Alive) some great opportunities,” Marquardt said about the fourth quarter. “We were also taking some fast perimeter shots in the second half.”

After the timeout, the Fighting Cougars closed the game out with a 13-4 run, holding Taken Alive and his team to four free throws.

The game opened with McCook Central/Montrose trailing 6-5, but that changed when the Fighting Cougars’ Shayne Gottlob had a 3-point play and two baskets, expanding MCM’s lead to 12-6. Gottlob had a team-high 26 points and 14 rebounds for MCM, which was without starter Andy Kappenman.

Marquardt said Kappenman hurt his knee Thursday at practice and had an MRI on Friday. Results of the test are unknown.

The Midgets closed out the first quarter with 3-point baskets from Taken Alive and Frank Yellow Fat to tie the contest at 12.

The Fighting Cougars, with a strong inside game, started to pull away in the second period. The inside game gave McCook Central/Montrose opportunities at the free-throw line, and the Fighting Cougars took advantage, hitting 7-of-8 free throws to lead at halftime 31-22.

The Fighting Cougars led 40-28 in the third quarter but a 3-point shot from Amos Talk and two Taken Alive free throws and cut the lead to 42-33.

McCook Central/Montrose seemed to be playing at McLaughlin pace, and then Marquardt called a time out. Led by Gottlob, the Fighting Cougars went on an 8-0 run setting up the hectic fourth quarter.

“(Gottlob) has had a great year,” Marquardt said of his 6-foot-5 inch senior. “He was averaging around 20 points (a game), but he’s had a couple of games where is has left the game early due to injuries or his average would be even higher. He’s played hard, he’s strong and athletic and he’s gotten us some big hoops.”

Jordan Wolf scored 14 points with Jake Heumiller added 12 points. The Fighting Cougars (14-3) were 23-of-46 from the field and 15-of-20 for 75 percent from the free-throw line.

McCook Central/Montrose outrebounded McLaughlin 37-18 and committed 15 turnovers.

Taken Alive scored 35 points, broking the DWU Classic scoring record of 26 points.

McLaughlin (11-7) was 16-of-48 for 33 percent from the floor and 10-of-13 from the free-throw line for 77 percent.

McCook Central/Montrose plays at Tri-Valley Tuesday in its next game, while McLaughlin travels to Chamberlain Friday.

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