COZAD – The Cozad basketball teams still have something to smile about, even though their seasons didn’t turn out like they had hoped.
Three girls and three boys off of the Haymaker squads were selected for the Southwest Conference All-Conference basketball teams on Thursday.
For the Lady Haymakers, Carlie Pinkelman capped off a stellar senior season, by being selected to the first team, while juniors Carly Henry and Jessica Finnegan were selected second team All-Conference.
Pinkelman was the team’s leading scorer with 11.8 points per game and nearly recorded a double-double for the season with an average of nine rebounds per game. Pinkelman finished fifth in school history in points scored with 620 points, while finishing second in school history in rebounds with 490.
“She has really developed her overall game and was a post player that made life difficult for opponents inside,” Head coach Will Reutzel said. “She really became a better all around player this season and improved her outside shooting, passing and dribbling skills.”
Henry was a solid contributor for the Lady Makers this season, scoring nine points a game along with nine rebounds per game. The junior recorded the fifth highest total rebounds in one season in school history with 196.
“She has a nice outside shot and solid ballhandling skills that allow her to play on the perimeter quite a bit,” Reutzel said. “Carly’s ballhandling skills and passing really added to our team in the half court and full court aspects.”
Finnegan was also a helping hand, scoring an average of seven points a game, while averaging almost five rebounds a game. Finnegan was also second on the team in steals with 46, while ranking third overall in shooting percentage, shooting at 38 percent.
“She is one of those old school gym rats that you see in the Wellness Center all of the time working on her game, playing Knockout or some 3 on 3,” Reutzel said. “She had some natural ballhandling skills when I met her as an 8th grader and she really has worked to improve those skills.”
On the guys side, seniors Jordan Hickenbottom and Evan Worrell was rewarded for his outstanding senior year, selected second-team All-Conference while senior Mason Fischer was selected third team All-Conference.
Hickenbottom nearly recorded a double-double during his senior year with the Haymakers, as he was the team’s leading scorer with 12.4 points per game, while grabbing 9.3 rebounds per game.
“Jordan was our most consistent player throughout the year,” head coach Scott Foster said. “He was a tough guy to guard as many of the best players in the league found out.”
Worrell was the team’s second leading scorer with 11.5 points per game, while recording three assists and two blocked shots per game.
“I was so glad that he was chosen and he deserves it,” Foster said. “He had some nights in which he absolutely lit it up from three point range.”
Fischer also averaged double-digits in scoring for the Haymakers this season as he contributed for 10.2 points per game.
“Mason was an athletic presence whenever he was on the court,” Foster said. “When he wanted to he could take over the game.”

• Cozad Basketball
• Cozad Boys Basketball
• Cozad Girls Basketball
• Cozad Haymakers

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