Cards Finish Regular Season

SODA SPRINGS – The Cardinal men wrapped up the regular season with mixed results.  On Tuesday the Cardinals traveled to Aberdeen to take on the Tigers.  As this game kicked off the teams would match baskets back and forth keeping the game close.  Towards the end of the first the Cardinals would gain some breathing room and finish the quarter with a 14-10 lead.  Starting off in the second it looked like Soda would start taking control of the game as they pushed the lead to 18-12.  Aberdeen wouldn't go away easily though as they made a run of their own getting back to within one point forcing Soda to take a timeout with about two and a half minutes left in the quarter.  Things would stay tight and the game would get tied at 20.  It looked as though that would be the score going into halftime but the Cardinals would tally up five points in the last fifteen seconds, including a beyond halfcourt buzzer beater by Hansen, and would take a halftime lead of 25-20.  In the third period of play Caleb Thompson would heat up hitting some three’s causing the Tigers to panic as they began to force up ill advised shots early in their possessions.  Good rebounding and tight defense by the Cardinals helped see the lead grow in the third.  The Tigers wouldn't see their first field goal of the quarter until the last two minutes.  The Cardinals would enter the fourth leading 40-24.  In the fourth Soda Springs would stay in control of the game as the scoring would go back and forth.  The Cardinals would spoil senior night for the Tigers as they walked away with the win by the score of 51-34.

In their regular season finale the Cardinals would face off against the West Side Pirates.  It was senior night and the gym was packed.  After introducing all of the senior players and cheerleaders the floor was lined from one end to the other with them and their parents.  It was a great sight to see so many of the senior class involved in activities.  As for the game it would feature two evenly matched teams and plenty of drama and excitement.  As things got underway the Cardinals came out playing quickly.  Good defense that featured some big blocks got Soda Springs off to an early lead of eight points while holding the Pirates scoreless through the first four minutes of play. The Cardinals would see the score reach 11-4 before the Pirates would mount a run of their own.  A few late quarter miscues by the Cardinals would see their lead erased and end the quarter now trailing 15-13.  Despite the Cardinals winning the rebounding battle, foul trouble would send West Side to the line enough that the Pirates would build their lead to 20-14.  The Cardinals would call timeout and attempt to get some composure.  The Cardinals would come out of the timeout and slowly climb back into the game cutting the deficit to just a single point before giving up a late basket and go into the half trailing 28-25.  Soda would come out of halftime and quickly grab the lead by one.  For the next few minutes of game time the teams would trade baskets and leads several times.  Some missed foul shots by the Cards would allow the Pirates to finish the quarter on a 6-2 run and enter the fourth quarter up 36-33.  The fourth quarter would be full of excitement.  West Side would hold the lead for the majority of the quarter but the Cards would be knocking on the door throughout.  With about two minutes left in regulation Soda would tie things up at 43 and West Side would call a timeout.  The Pirates would come out of the timeout and hit a big three point basket taking the lead once again.  Soda would continue to fight and with just under 30 seconds left would hit a three of their own tying things up once again.  West Side would run the clock down to twelve seconds and call a timeout to set up a final shot but the Soda defense would get the takeaway  with 2.4 seconds left and call a timeout of their own.  The last second attempt would miss and we would head to overtime.  The overtime period would start off with a defensive battle and things would remain tied at 48 with just one and a half minutes left.  After yet another timeout the Cardinals would commit a turnover and foul a Pirate on the shot giving West Side an old fashion three point play and the lead.  The Pirates would add one more foul shot and sneak out with the 52-48 win in overtime.  

The Cardinals will have to regroup quickly as district tournament play begins Tuesday.  And who are the Cardinals opponents, none other than West Side?  This should be a great game.  The Cardinals have all the pieces to make a good tournament run.  With their length, speed, good shooters, and all around athleticism they have a very well rounded team.  If they put it all together they could be looking at a district title and a state birth.