The Chadron Cardinals began a busy week Tuesday Night with a trip to Hot Springs, South Dakota to take on the Bison of Hot Springs. The Cardinals took care of business with a clean sweep between JV and Varsity. The Cardinals girls won by a 42-25 score while the boys took a 66-39 decision.
The girls game was all Chadron with the Cardinals holding the Bison scoreless through the first 13:20 of game time while going on an 18-0 run. Hot Springs was able to go on a 10-5 run in the final few minutes of the first half to make the score 23-10 at half.
Chadron struggled from the free throw line in the game going 11-30 which allowed Hot Springs to get back in the game but every time the Bison got the deficit to 10 the Cardinals were able to fend them off. The Cardinals ended up extending the lead late in the second half to get a 42-25 win.
Jezy Alcorn had nine points to lead the Cardinals. Reese Ritterbush hit two 3’s, finishing with seven. Spohie Watson had six, Gracie Calkins, Cali Hendrickson along with Jacey Turman finished with five. Rounding out the scoring was Addison Morrison with four.
The Cardinals girls sit at 5-4 and will visit Lakota Tech on Thursday evening.
The boys game had a strange start as the Cardinals were assessed a pregame technical for touching the rim during warmups. Hot Springs hit the two free throws and then on the inbound the Cardinals defense forced a five seconds call which gave them the ball. Creighton Ryan promptly hit his first of two 3’s in the game to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead one possession into the game. The Cardinals continued pushing ahead in the first quarter with Brady Daniels getting six of his 18 points during the quarter as the Cardinals led 15-8.
The Cardinals in the second quarter were unstoppable with Thomas Smith getting 14 of his game high 20 points in the quarter as the Cardinals led 37-23 at half.
The Bison had nothing for Chadron in the second half as the Cardinals out-scored the Bison 29-16 to finish off a 66-39 win.
Thomas Smith finished with a game high 20 points, Brady Daniels was right behind him with 18. Creighton Ryan and Talon Jelinek finished with six. Tobin Landen, Derek Bissonette and Tyson Pourier finished with four. And to round out the scoring Trey Owsley along with Tobin Rust had two a piece.
The Cardinals boys sit at 3-6 and will wait till Saturday for their next game when Mitchell comes to town for a girls/boys doubleheader.