The Boone Central/Newman Grove Cardinals faced a gut check on the road Thursday.
BC/NG, ranked #5 in Class C1 by the Omaha World-Herald, trailed host Scotus by 15 points in the second quarter of their game at Columbus.
Following a timeout and challenge from the BC/NG coaching staff, the Cardinals responded with trademark defensive intensity, leading to a key 55-42 victory over the 10-3 Shamrocks.
Boone Central/Newman Grove followed that success by thrashing visiting Ord 62-44 Friday in Albion, improving to 13-4 in 2012-13.
The Cardinals will travel to Battle Creek this Friday, then compete the following week in the annual Mid-State Conference Tournament at Norfolk.
BC/NG 55, Scotus 42
Boone Central/Newman Grove answered a major challenge with two-and-a-half quarters of inspired basketball and defeated Scotus 55-42 at Columbus Jan. 17.
The Shamrocks used a blistering start – led by Derek Lahm’s seven points and scoring contributions from six players – to take a 20-11 lead after one quarter of play.
That Scotus advantage grew to 15 before BC/NG Coach Dan Zoucha used a timeout to rally his troops. From there, it was all Cardinals.
“We have to be a more focused team at the beginning of games – our players know they need to keep working on this. However, we were impressed with our team’s grit and determination to totally change the atmosphere of the game.”
BC/NG 62, Ord 44
Visiting Ord hung with the Cardinals for a while Friday, but in the end succumbed to Boone Central/Newman Grove’s relentless defense and fast, offensive transition in a 62-44 contest in Albion.
Leading 14-11 after one period of play, BC/NG fashioned a 17-5 second-quarter blitz with scoring by six players to take a 31-16 advantage into intermission.
Pierce Koch sank his second and third 3-point baskets of the game in the third period and Johnson added a trey as the Cardinals remained hot. BC/NG finished with another 31-point half as Hedlund poured in eight in the final stanza.
“Ord is a scrappy team that has played several teams tough. They are playing hard and have some players who can shoot the ball,” said Zoucha. “Overall, I thought we played hard. We got out and ran the floor well and finished with 17 assists.
Further details in Print & Online editions of Albion News
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