A packed house greeted the Chadron Cardinals boys and girls basketball teams for one final time before the holiday break. The Cardinals girls returned the favor with a stress free 69-37 win while the boys put on a thrilling 50-41 win over the Douglas, South Dakota Patriots.
The girls game was a complete domination for the Chadron Cardinals but it did not come easy at first. The Patriots were able to keep up with the Cardinals in the first quarter with the score being 19-13, Chadron at the end of the first quarter. The Cardinals defense stepped up during the second quarter allowing the Patriots to only score four points with the score being 38-17 at the half. The Cardinals continued their defensive success in the third quarter by only allowing five points to go into the fourth quarter up 56-22 before completing the 69-37 win.
The Cardinals were led in scoring by Jezy Alcorn with 14 points. Reese Ritterbush joined her in double figures with 11 points. Addison Morrison finished with a season high nine points along with Gracie Calkins. Sophie Watson had eight, Rylan Berry had six, Brylee Huffman finished with five, Jacey Turman had three points. Also scoring for the Cardinals were Kailinh Sayaloune had two points along with Jove Griese and Cali Hendrickson with one point.
The Cardinals hit 10 threes and went 10/26 from the free throw line. The Cardinals get to 3-2 on the season going into the holiday break.
The boys game was the complete opposite of the girls game as it was tight throughout with the largest lead until the final minute of the game being six. The Cardinals led 8-6 after the first quarter. The game stayed tight in the second quarter with the Cardinals taking a 19-18 lead into the half. Douglas showed some might in the third quarter to set up a decisive fourth quarter. The Cardinals and Patriots were deadlocked midway through the fourth quarter when the decisive moment happened. Douglas was called for an offensive foul and as the players were walking down the court a technical foul was issued to a Patriot player. Thomas Smith hit the technical free throws and Chadron scored on the possession and the rest was history as Chadron pulled away for the much needed 50-41 win.
Thomas Smith led with 17 points, Brady Daniels had 13 and Derek Bissonette had a season high 10 points. Talon Jelenik and Tobin Landen each had four points as the Cardinals move to 2-3.
Next up for Chadron is the Chadron Rotary Holiday Tournament at the Chicoine Center on the campus of Chadron State College December 30th and 31st. Bridgeport and Valentine will meet up in the first two games with the girls starting at two and the boys at 3:30. Then Chadron and Ogallala will match up with the girls scheduled for five pm and the boys to follow at approximately 6:30.