Coach Evan Wyllie and his Norris City-Omaha-Enfield Fighting Cardinal basketball team ventured to Thompsonville Friday night to take on the Tigers in the final game of the regular season.
This game started out slow on the offensive end for both teams but when the first frame came to a close, the Fighting Cardinals would find themselves facing a 2-point deficit, 11-9. NCOE would suffer severe shooting woes in the second quarter for they would only add six points to their total while Thompsonville posted 14 to claim the 25-15 halftime advantage.
Following halftime, NCOE made some adjustments and hit the court with a much higher intensity level. This new found energy enabled the Fighting Cardinals to go on a 16-11 run which cut into the Tiger lead. NCOE now would trail by just five points heading into the fourth and final quarter of play. This final stanza would find the Tigers stepping up their defense to limit NCOE to just six fourth quarter points en route to handing the Fighting Cardinals the 44-37 loss.
CJ Richardson and Brandon Skaggs shared scoring honors as each recorded nine points in the game. Others scoring were Jack Riggs eight, Evan Healy six, and Jeb Baumgart five.
Coach Jim Tucker and his Jayvee squad would put forth a gallant effort against the Tigers as they fell behind 15-6 following one quarter of play but would rally back in the second quarter to tie the game at halftime at 18-all.
Second half action would once again find NCOE starting out slow as the Tigers outscored NCOE 16-12 in the third quarter to reclaim the lead 34-30 heading into the final stanza of play. This final frame would witness the Fighting Cardinals fighting back and appearing to be close to pulling off the come from behind victory but the Tigers would step up their intensity and NCOE would come up just short in the end by the final score of 52-48. The junior varsity team closes the season with a 8-7 overall record.
Joe Melton led the Jayvee squad with 12 points followed closely by Ty Lane with 11 points. Others scoring for NCOE in the contest were Nathaniel Wilson nine, Bryce Jolley and Houston Money six points a piece, and two points a piece for Ty Money and Eli Brown.
NCOE (8-16) will begin IHSA Class 1A Regional Tournament action Monday, February 19 at 6 p.m. when they play host to the Galatia Bearcats.
