Cardinals top Thunder, fall to Gilmanton in narrow match
by Doug Sands
The Eleva-Strum Cardinals boys team marked a point on each side of their early season record this week, topping Osseo-Fairchild and falling to Gilmanton.
The Cardinals traveled to Gilmanton this week. Not only was it the first regular season match for the Cardinals, but it was also the first time the Cards faced off with the Panthers since these teams tied as conference champions last season.
The Cardinals took to the court with high intensity, but the Panthers were ready to receive them. They clashed heavily, exchanging blows through the first quarter. The teams fought to find a weakness in their opponents with neither coming out ahead. Gilmanton managed a single-point lead on the Cardinals during the second quarter, making the halftime score 27-26.
Coming into the third, Eleva-Strum slipped up in their execution. The Panthers took advantage, widening the division to three points. Those three points turned out to be the insurmountable wall that the Cardinals couldn’t overcome. Eleva-Strum slipped further behind, and the Panthers claimed the game 59-53.
Caleub Watkins led the scoreboard with 18 points, with sophomore Matthew Higley close behind landing 15 points. Leading 2-pointers for the game was Higley with six. Right behind was Watkins with five and Gage Everson with four. Watkins put up an impressive four 3-pointers, with Matt Higley, Kelton Olson, and Hunter Ryskoski each adding one. Watkins also led free throws with four, with Higley contributing two.
Eleva-Strum also faced off with the Osseo-Fairchild Thunder this week. They hammered out an impressive game, topping the Thunder with a wide lead.
The Cardinals took to the court with O-F on Monday, Dec. 1 on the Thunder home court. Eleva-Strum got a slow start as the Thunder held them in check the first quarter. The Cardinals shook loose in the second, slamming into their opponents to build a 37-22 score by halftime. The Thunder stepped up their game coming out of the half and kept pace with E-S, shedding a point from their deficit. But the Cardinals pulled out the stops in the final quarter, finishing Osseo-Fairchild by 18 points. Eleva-Strum took the match 64-46.
Watkins capped two-pointers with seven, followed by Everson with six and Olson, who had four. Watkins also led 3-pointers, putting up the only five on the Cardinal team. Watkins nailed down an impressive 23 total points for the team, trailed by Everson with 14 and Olson with 12.
The Cardinals will next host Eau Claire Immanual Lutheran, with a tip-off against the Lancers scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12.
