Basketball Game Preview: McCool Junction Mustangs vs. Osceola Bulldogs

The McCool Junction Mustangs will challenge the Osceola Bulldogs at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.

Osceola will be up against a hot McCool Junction team: the squad just extended their winning streak to three. McCool Junction put the hurt on Bruning-Davenport/Shickley with a sharp 69-43 victory on Tuesday. The Mustangs have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won nine matches by 25 points or more this season.

Carson Mcdonald

Steals

02/25/25 vs Bruning-Davenport/Shickley	3
02/21/25 @ Giltner	5
02/14/25 vs Dorchester	3
02/11/25 vs Exeter-Milligan/Friend	2
02/07/25 @ Nebraska Lutheran	3

McCool Junction's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Carson Mcdonald led the charge by going 8-for-19 en route to 22 points in addition to six rebounds and three steals. Mcdonald has been hot, having posted two or more steals the last five times he's played. Jaxon Mcdonald was another key player, going 5-for-10 on his way to 14 points along with five assists and five boards.

Meanwhile, Osceola earned a 65-55 win over Deshler on Tuesday.

Osceola had a senior duo take command as Kelby Neujahr went 11-for-17 to rack up 31 points in addition to six assists and five rebounds and Boston Hinkle went 8-for-15 en route to 21 points and six boards. Neujahr is becoming a predictor of Osceola's success: when he posts at least 20 points the team is 7-2 (and 7-9 when he doesn't). Another player making a difference was Brayden Santos, who posted nine points.

McCool Junction's victory bumped their record up to 19-5. As for Osceola, their win bumped their record up to 14-11.

McCool Junction beat Osceola 65-56 in their previous meeting back in January. Will McCool Junction repeat their success, or does Osceola have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.