Cardinal boys top both Mondovi and Gilmanton in narrow victories
by Doug Sands, student writer
The Eleva-Strum boys basketball team won two games this week by the skin of their teeth, defeating both Mondovi and Gilmanton in dramatically close games.
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, the Cardinals traveled to Mondovi to face off with the Buffaloes on their home court. Eleva-Strum struck an offensive drive in the first quarter, but Mondovi kept close pace. The Cardinals turned up their defensive work in the second quarter, slowing down the Buffaloes’ momentum and stretching a lead to eight points, 28-20, at the half.
In the third quarter, Mondovi shook loose. They turned the tables on Eleva-Strum, pinning them to five points in the period with heavy defensive action. The Buffaloes charged forward, knocking apart their deficit point by point. Eleva-Strum regained its lost footing just in time in the final quarter. They seized the Buffaloes by the horns, holding down their offense until the final buzzer. Eleva-Strum claimed the hard-fought win 46-42.
Leading the Cardinals on the scoreboard was Caleub Watkins with an impressive 19 points followed by Gage Everson with 11, Kelton Olson with five, and Mathew Higley with four.
Two days later Eleva-Strum opened its court to receive the Gilmanton Panthers in a promising match-up.
Gilmanton and Eleva-Strum had been evenly matched in past years, and at 11-3 overall this season, the Panthers stood as serious contenders. The stands were full that night as the community came in full force to see the action.
The Cardinals and Panthers took to the court with driving energy. They circled each other, but neither side could find a weak spot. Eleva-Strum drove a firm offensive in the first quarter, but the Panthers stuck with them point for point. In the second, the Cardinals fumbled and Gilmanton capitalized, knocking E-S down and seizing a four-point lead, 24-20.
The Cardinals fought for an opening in the third quarter, but the Panthers fiercely defended their lead. It all came down to the fourth. The Cardinals shifted their defense into high gear, clamping an iron hand on Gilmanton’s momentum. Point by point, they whittled the deficit down until they were neck and neck with their opponents. Gilmanton struggled, but the Panthers made every point a battle of its own.
Finally, Eleva-Strum’s offensive put them on top, though the game came down to the very last seconds. Down by a single point, the Panthers missed a free throw that could have sent the game into overtime. Instead, the Cards took the close victory, 45-44.
Hunter Ryskoski tied with Watkins for the lead on the scoreboard, each putting up 11 points. Close behind them came Everson with 10, Higley with nine and Olson with four.
Eleva-Strum currently holds a 13-4 overall record on the season and now sit atop the Small Dairyland standings in sole possession of first place at 8-3. With just a handful of regular season games left, the Cardinals are in great position to make a strong playoff run. Eleva-Strum plays next at Eau Claire Immanuel on Friday, Feb. 13, for the squad’s lone game this week.
