Cards claim second straight district crown
Cards claim second straight district crown
Troop, Trojans, Miners also advance
By STU MERRY
The District 10 champion Washburn Cardinals bolted to a 20-plus point lead early in the second quarter of the District 10 championship game in Garrison this past Saturday.
They needed every bit of that cushion as their opponent in the title game, the Turtle Lake-Mercer-McClusky Trojans, came storming back, only to fall 62-58.
It's the second year in a row the Cardinals have bumped off the Trojans in the title tilt. Last year, the Redbirds came in as the No. 1 seed, while the Trojans were No. 2. The final score then was a more one-sided affair with Washburn prevailing 60-48.
This past Saturday, the Cardinals used their speed and tenacity to surprise the stronger, larger Trojan machine in the early going. But sheer willpower started turning the tide as the game progressed. Down 23-7 after on equarter, the Trojans trimmed the deficit to 47-45 after three quarters.
But the bend-but-not-break Cardinals held on down the stretch to prevail.
The Garrison Troopers, still smarting from a heart-breaking loss to the Cardinals this past Friday, 49-41 in the semis, took their frustration out on Max, 85-61 in a win-and-advance game. In the other win-and-advance game, Wilton-Wing turned back Underwood 48-34.
Opening round scores saw Wilton-Wing blow by Max 66-47, and Garrison humble Underwood, 54-46.
Friday,Washburn prevailed over the Troopers 49-41, and TL-M-M had little difficulty defeating Wilton-Wing 70-59.
