The Norris City-Omaha-Enfield Fighting Cardinal basketball team ventured back to Wayne City Wednesday evening to play the Woodlawn Cardinals in semifinal action of the IHSA Class 1A Regional Tournament. Already defeating a higher seeded team, the Fighting Cardinals knew they were in for a challenge as they took their #9 seed up against the overall #2 seed.
NCOE responded nicely to this challenge as they hung right with the Woodlawn Cardinals throughout the first quarter of action to find themselves only trailing by one point, 14-13, as the first quarter buzzer sounded. Second quarter action would witness NCOE’s defense standing strong as they would limit Woodlawn to just five points. This, on top of outscoring their opponent by one point allowed NCOE to head to the locker room tied with the Cardinals at 19-all.
When both teams hit the court to begin second half action, it was apparent that Woodlawn had made some offensive adjustments as well as defensive. This would allow the Cardinals to hold the Fighting Cardinals to just five points in the third frame of action while they erupted for 15 to reclaim the lead and stretch it out to 10 points. Now trailing by double digits with just one stanza remaining, the Fighting Cardinals had one last hope if they were going to pull off the upset victory. Although NCOE did everything they could, the size and strength of the 23-5 Woodlawn Cardinals was just too much as they held the Fighting Cardinals to just four more points in the contest. This lack of second half offense was too much to overcome as NCOE fell to Woodlawn by the final score of 46-28.
CJ Richardson led the offensive attack for the Fighting Cardinals with seven points followed by Joe Melton with six points, Colton O’Neal five points, Ty Money five points, Brandon Skaggs four points, and Jack Riggs one point.
NCOE closes the 2018-2019 campaign with an overall 13-15 record.
