Boone Central took some hard knocks and learned some valuable lessons against a string of Top 10 opponents earlier in the 2020-21 basketball season.
The Cardinals are now putting that schooling to good use.
Boone Central notched two more victories this past week, extending its streak of wins to three games for the first time and boosting its season record to 8-8.
The Cardinals will travel to Battle Creek Friday, then vie in the annual Mid-State Conference tournament next week as they enter the final stretch of the campaign.
Boone Central began its successful week with a hard-fought 64-56 victory at Scotus Thursday.
The Cardinals were never able to shake a determined Scotus (4-11) squad, but used a strong offensive performance to edge ahead 37-31 by halftime. Boone Central maintained its lead through the third period, then secured the ‘W’ with a 17-13 advantage in the fourth quarter.
“We did a good job of attacking their zone all night, getting some easy layups. We started off hitting some threes, and giving up too many threes in our press,” said Boone Central Coach Justin Harris. “We kept building our lead up to 10, then they would make a run to cut into it. We usually responded to keep it at least a two-possession game.
Boone Central was much more emphatic Friday, blitzing visiting Ord 71-45 with a hot start and strong finish.
The Cardinals burst to a 20-4 first-quarter lead with relentless full court pressure and a high-paced offensive attack. Boone Central built a 38-18 halftime lead and, after Ord (4-11) slowed the Cards’ momentum in the third period, finished the game with a 23-11 run.
“We came out and attacked them offensively and defensively. This gave us control of the game,” Harris acknowledged. “We struggled in the third quarter, but came back strong at the beginning of the fourth.”
Further details in Print & Online editions of Albion News and Boone County Tribune
