Basketball Recap: Jacey Cochran's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Gering over Wheatland

Gering was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their fourth straight defeat. They were two points away from ending the streak, but they lost a 57-55 heartbreaker at the hands of the Wheatland Bulldogs. While losing is never fun, Gering can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 105th in Nebraska, while Wheatland is ranked seventh in Wyoming).

Gering lost despite a true team effort on offense, the best among them being Jacey Cochran, who posted 13 points and eight rebounds. Cochran has been hot recently, having posted eight or more boards the last three times she's played. Jacelyn Brown was another key player, going 5 of 10 en route to 13 points.

Bulldogs

Previous 4 Games

01/16/25 @ Wheatland	55-57
01/14/25 @ Scottsbluff	34-46
01/11/25 @ Bennington	37-71
01/10/25 @ Crete	50-53

Even though they lost, Gering smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 11 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in seven consecutive contests.

Lily Anderson was her usual excellent self, going 13 for 24 on her way to 38 points in addition to five assists and three steals for Wheatland. Molly Mcguire also deserves some recognition as she posted her first block of the season.

Gering now has a losing record at 5-6. As for Wheatland, the victory made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 10-3.

Gering wasted no time getting back out on the court and has already played their next match, a 53-14 win against Gordon-Rushville on the 17th. As for Wheatland, they will be playing in front of their home fans against Torrington at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Wheatland is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 52.3 points per game this season.