Senior Parker Long eyes the basket as she is surrounded by Spring Hill defenders during the game Friday night. Long led the team with 16 points and two 3-pointers.
The Cardinals basketball teams took care of business Friday night as each team defeated Spring Hill to start the season 1-0.
On the girls side, senior Parker Long and freshman Brynn Deterding led the way to the 53-47 victory as Long scored 16 points and Deterding scored 15.
Long said it was nice to start this season off on the right foot.
“Just setting an expectation for the rest of the year is really important, and setting the right tone just to always give full effort in every game,” Long said.
Head coach Brandon Parker said a big difference in this year’s team compared to last year’s is the depth of the squad and it showed against the Broncos.
“It was a total team effort. The cool thing is we’ve just got a group of individuals that are a team, and they want to do whatever they can to help the team,” Parker said. “So, their minutes are valuable because they’re wearing on the opponent, you know, whether it’s the ball handler, whether it’s down in the post, whatever it may be, and every night will probably look different. Our starters finished the game, whereas last year, in those situations they were really, really tired. But with our team and people stepping in and doing their role, they’re a little bit more fresh.”
All five of the Cardinals starters scored at least five points while seniors Lucy Giffin and Sophie Whalen, junior Hanna Keltner and freshman Izzy Brunkow provided crucial minutes off the bench for the team.
The Cardinals started the game on fire on both sides of the ball as the team jumped out to a 7-0 lead and forced multiple Spring Hill turnovers.
After calling a timeout though, the Broncos stepped up and only allowed two Cardinal points for the rest of the first quarter to take an 11-9 lead into the second.
The second quarter started with the teams trading multiple baskets, but the Cardinals eventually took the quarter over as the team sparked an 11-0 scoring run.
Long, Deterding and senior Lainey Orr each hit a 3-pointer during the run to help the Cardinals take a 30-26 lead into halftime.
Deterding said both sides of the ball played a role in creating the big scoring run.
“We just wanted to get up on defense and then get the runs on offense and create open shots for our teammates. So, I think that was good,” she said.
Spring Hill took a 40-39 lead into the fourth quarter where the game turned into a very physical battle.
All of the Cardinals’ points in the fourth quarter came at the free throw stripe as the team made it an emphasis to get to the basket where they got fouled.
Senior Kenzie Yoder showed her toughness as she took two hard fouls, but still hit four free throws to help put the Cardinals up 51-47 late in the game.
Then, the Cardinals defense stepped up by forcing a Broncos turnover with just 4.7 seconds left. Deterding hit two more free throws to bring the game to its final score.
Long said she is proud of the team for handling the physicality of the game in the fourth quarter.
“It’s definitely very nerve-racking those last few minutes,” Long said. “So, being tough physically and mentally was really important.”
As for the boys squad, senior Logan Sullivan described the Cardinals’ 50-42 win as “scrappy” as the team is still trying to learn how to work together early in the season.
“That’s how the first game is always going to be with a new crew. I think we got the job done and just got to get better from here,” Sullivan said.
Head coach Kyle Deterding said he was pleased with the overall effort of the team.
“Things got a little sloppy. Kids get a little tired, but that’s kind of expected in game one and early in the season,” he said. “But I thought we played pretty hard and did enough things to get it done.”
Sullivan started the game hot for the Cardinals as he scored 11 of the team’s 13 points in the first quarter after hitting two 3s.
Sullivan said he wanted to get his teammates involved early, which led to his fast start.
“I wanted to dish some balls to my teammates, you know? Once I get going, I can get them open,” he said.
Sullivan tacked on another 3-pointer to give the Cardinals a 26-17 lead at halftime. Sullivan finished the game with 24 points.
Junior Connor Watson said taking a good lead into the break was important in slowing down the Broncos.
“I think they came out with their heads on fire, so they were ready,” Watson said. “So, having that nice nine-point cushion was very good and comfortable to have.”
Watson helped the Cardinals continue their charge out of the break as he scored five of his eight points in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Cardinals defense stepped up and held the Broncos scoreless for nearly six minutes.
Spring Hill hung around, however, as they made a late push, but it was ultimately too little, too late and the Cardinals prevailed with the victory.
The teams will take on Mill Valley at home Tuesday for their next games. The girls will start at 6 p.m. followed by the boys team at 7:30 p.m.
Watch the Kaw Valley State Bank post-game show to hear more from Brynn Deterding, Long, Parker, Sullivan, Watson and Kyle Deterding.
Reach reporter Jack Denebeim at [email protected].
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