It wasn’t an easy go for the NCOE Fighting Cardinals this year at the 49th Annual Holiday Tournament. The snow and ice limited the number of games the Cardinals played before the seating meeting, and early losses to Crab Orchard and Edwards County meant a low draw against number two Harrisburg in the first round. The defending 2A champs came into the tournament on a roll, and easily dispatched NCOE 64-38.
“You don’t get many opportunities to play a defending State Champion,” coach Bryon Graven said following the loss. “I had hoped we would come in to this game with a lot more drive, but we didn’t have it today.”
The Cardinals hoped to stave off elimination on Saturday, but once again saw themselves facing a Bulldog bite. Seventh-ranked Carmi-White County was upset on Friday by unseated Herrin, 37-25. This set up a rematch between the county rivals from just five days before, when Carmi topped the Cardinals 54-30. NCOE came up short once again, dropping the contest 56-42 and heading home for 2013.
Harrisburg would go on to take home the EHT trophy, knocking off top-ranked Meridian 85-77, in an epic championship bout. Carmi saw their tournament end in the consolation championship game against the Gallatin County Hawks, falling 58-55. With Harrisburg’s victory, the Bulldogs become the first team to win four straight EHT titles. Last year, Harrisburg won their third consecutive tournament, tying a record set by the 1988-1990 NCOE team.
A full wrap-up of the 49th Annual Eldorado Holiday Tournament can be found on our website, www.thevillagersvoice.com.
