The Chadron Cardinals girls and boys basketball teams went to Gordon Saturday evening to take on the Gordon-Rushville Mustangs. The Cardinals had to earn it but they came home with a sweep of the Mustangs. The girls had to fend off a shot at the buzzer to win 45-44 then the boys took care of business in a 61-14 win.
The girls game was dominated by Chadron in the first half, taking a 9-2 lead after the first quarter before leading 17-13 at half. The third quarter was similar to the first in that the Cardinals dominated to take a 33-25 lead into the fourth. A scoring explosion happened in the fourth with the teams combining for 31 points. Gordon-Rushville worked their way back into the game and had a one point lead twice. But it was the Cardinals toughness down the stretch that allowed them to come out on top 45-44.
Jezy Alcorn led the Cardinals with 10 points, Sophie Watson had seven, Cali Hendrickson had six, Gracie Calkins, Reese Ritterbush, and Rylan Barry each had four. Thaivunh Sayaloune had three and Jove Griese had a point.
The Cardinals girls now sit at 10-6 on the season.
The boys game was a balanced attack from the Cardinals as they scorched out to a 18-2 lead in the first quarter. Gordon-Rushville got eight in the second but it was Chadron going into the locker room up 41-10. With a running clock most of the second half the Cardinals held Gordon-Rushville to four points while dropping 23 with the final score being 63-14.
Brady Daniels had 14 to lead the Cardinals, Thomas Smith was right behind with 12, Tobin Landen had eight, Haiven Catches had seven. Four players finished with four points in Tyson Pourier, Derek Bissonette, Tobin Rust and Cole Carnahan. Talon Jelinek had two along with Trey Owsley and Eliu Paopao as the boys get to 8-7 on the season.
Next up for the girls and boys is the Western Conference Tournament Thursday through Saturday to be held at Scottsbluff/Gering and WNCC.