The Chadron Cardinals wrapped up their run at the George Watson Chadron Rotary Holiday Classic on Tuesday with matchups against Valentine for third place. The girls were able to get the win 43-36 while the boys fell 81-71.
The Cardinals girls came out looking like they were not on a 16 hour turnaround by taking care of business in the first quarter 11-4. Valentine was able to cut into the lead going into the half with the score being 19-13 Chadron. The deficit was cut down even more in the third quarter with Chadron holding a four point lead going int the fourth quarter. The comeback was short lived with the Cardinals stretching the lead by three in the fourth to win by a 43-36 score. The Cardinals, after falling to Ogallala Monday night, take home third place.
Sophie Watson finished with 12 points, Gracie Calkins had 11, Reese Ritterbush finished with six despite missing most of the second half. Jacey Turman had five, Jezy Alcorn finished with four, Cali Hendrickson had three and Addison Morrison finished with two,
The boys game was all Valentine out of he gate with the Cardinals looking flat. Valentine was able to race out to a 17 point lead in the first half with the score being 38-21 at half. The margin stayed relatively the same throughout the third quarter with both teams scoring 25 points in the quarter with Valentine taking a 63-46 lead into the fourth. Chadron lit up the scoreboard in the fourth and had cut the Valentine lead to nine a couple times but a late flurry by the Badgers allowed them to finish off an 81-71 win to get third place.
Thomas Smith finished with 27 points on the night, 25 of them in the second half. Brady Daniels finished with 16, Derek Bissonette had 10, Creighton Ryan along with Talon Jelnek finished with six, Tobin Landen had four and Cole Carnahan finished with two. Chadron will now be off until Saturday when they host Scottsbluff.