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The Cardinals boys basketball team grabbed its second win of the season in a tight game Thursday night against Tonganoxie.
After starting strong, the Cardinals fell in a rut to end the first quarter. They found themselves in a back-and-forth battle all night.
On multiple occasions, the Cardinals battled back from a deficit to keep the game close and ultimately come out on top.
“I thought we battled in the second half coming down from seven or eight,” senior Micaiah Jerome said. “And I thought that we showed a lot of toughness.”
They were bolstered by a pair of 13-point performances from freshmen Sy Thomas and Cash Schneider, who knocked down multiple clutch second-half 3-pointers.
“One point coach emphasized at halftime was toughness,” Schneider said. “So, just making sure we really came out in the second half tough.”
Head coach Tyler Cleveland said he was happy the team could get a win against an older opponent, but will have lots to work on as the team enters winter break.
“I thought they were tough,” Cleveland said. “They pushed the ball well, you know, we knew coming in we were gonna have to tighten up defensively.”
The Cardinals girls basketball team also claimed a win Thursday night over Tonganoxie, thanks to stifling defense and a trio of underclassmen scorers.
Freshman Avah Dye led the team with 15 points and sophomores Izzy Brunkow and Brynn Deterding were close behind with 11 and 10, respectively.
The Cardinals got out to a fast start, claiming a 9-2 lead early. In the second quarter, Brunkow and Dye racked up tough buckets as the Cardinals jumped out to a 32-19 lead at halftime.
“Our team chemistry is amazing this year,” Deterding said. “And I think that everyone has their night. I think that it doesn’t matter who scores, we all just have fun and we go out and play together.”
The team wore baby blue jerseys for a blue-out game raising money for Children’s Mercy Cancer Center. The event raised over $300, said Athletic Director Cara Kimblerlin.
Defense has been a strength for the Cardinals all year. They used their speed and communication to help lock down some talented Tonganoxie guards.
“Just focus on defense,” Dye said. “Offense will follow. Defense wins games.”
Next up for the Cardinals is winter break before they resume their season in the new year.
“We gotta keep pushing each other and understand that we’ve got more levels that we can go to,” head coach Brandon Parker said. “It’s just a process, and we have to make sure that our intensity is there every single day”
Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]
