PCS boys’ basketball season a “roller coaster”

    Perkins County boys’ basketball Head Coach Coy Gager said he’s been working towards being a head coach for most of his life and getting to experience it with such a great group of kids was very rewarding.  
The team went 14-9 this year and Gager said the season was a bit of a roller coaster.  
“We came out of the gates swinging then hit a few bumps in the road and from there the ups and downs continued,” Gager said.
The Plainsmen started the season 5-0, before losses to three teams that have  23 win and state tournament berths, Dundy County Stratton, Hyannis and North Platte St. Pat’s. DCS and NPSP won their first-round games at the state tournament Monday. Hyannis played its first-round game Tuesday evening.
PCS picked up four-straight wins before a 1-4 streak, which was followed by a 3-1 streak.
The Plainsmen’s season ended in the first-round of subdistricts.
“The guys fought hard in every single game, all of our losses we were close at some point in the second half and whether the opponent went on a run or we just went cold, we came out on the wrong side of a few games that could have gone either way,” Gager said.
The Plainsmen were led by six seniors.
“Hunter Garner is probably the most coachable kid I have had in a long time. He worked to get himself and everyone better,” Gager said of the guard.
Garner led Perkins County in scoring with a 13.3 points per game average. Garner also finished second on the team with 136 rebounds, 65 assists and 40 steals.
Hayden Foster also finished with double digit scoring, 12.3 points per game, while pulling down 124 rebounds and leading PCS with 42 steals.
Foster is one of those guys who is just going to outwork everyone, Gager said.  
“We really asked Hayden to take over some games down in the post whether on the offensive or defensive end of the floor, we knew he was someone we could lean on,” Gager added.
“Triston Hite is just an athletic kid who brought tons of varsity experience to the team, we relied on his ball handling,” Gager said.
Hite averaged 9.6 points per game and led the Plainsmen with 72 assists.
Coming off the bench, Jeb Kohl worked hard and brought tons of energy to games, Gager said.
 Erik Snyder battled past injuries, but Gager said Perkins County coaches were glad to have him on the team.  
Jordan Mireles came out this year after not playing in previous years and did everything the coaches asked of him, Gager said, adding Mireles really improved throughout the season.
“This being my first year, I wish I would have gotten more time to work with the seniors to see what we could have accomplished, but that’s not the way it works and they will always be special to me,” Gager said.
Junior Casey Hanson and sophomores Nolan Foster and Blake Garner were big contributors for the Plainsmen.
B. Garner led PCS in rebounding with 145 while scoring 8.4 points per game.
Freshman Jackson Wykert also saw action in more than half of Perkins County’s games.
“Looking ahead, we have some great talent coming, though we will be young next year,” Gager said.
“Having those seniors was the best thing that could have happened for the underclassman, because practice was always intense and everyone pushed the guy next to him to be better,” added Gager.
The community’s support did not go unnoticed.
“I just want to thank everyone, parents and community, for the support this season. We can’t say thank you enough for packing the bleachers and supporting us,” Gager said.