Coach Jimmy Goebel’s NCOE Junior Cardinal basketball team traveled to Gallatin County Tuesday evening to play the Pope County Pirates in the first round of SIJHSAA Class M Regional Tournament action. The Junior Cardinals who earned the second seed in the tournament had to defeat the Pirates in order to earn the right to advance to the championship game on Thursday night.
Following a week without a game due to snowy conditions, it was no wonder first quarter action started out slow for both teams. Although both teams were not flowing offensively as well as they had hoped, NCOE did manage to outscore their opponent to take the early 9-6 lead. The second quarter found NCOE still facing shooting woes while the Pirates were starting to find their rhythm. This second quarter would witness the Pirates returning the three point scoring advantage to tie the contest at sixteen all at halftime. After intermission, the Junior Cardinals appeared motivated, knowing that if they were to lose the game, they would be done for the season. This motivation spread when NCOE hit the floor ready to begin third quarter play as Jack Riggs and Ty Money combined to tally 21 third quarter points while the NCOE defense stepped it up to hold Pope County to only two points. Now leading by 19 with only one quarter remaining, it appeared a trip to the Regional Championship game was just a few short minutes away. Although NCOE had a comfortable lead, they did not take anything for granted during this fourth and final quarter as they posted an additional 15 points to cruise to the 52-30 victory and earn a berth in the championship game Thursday night against the host and top seeded Gallatin County Junior Hawks.
Jack Riggs topped all players with 24 points in the game. Others scoring for the Jr. Cards were Devon Lawless 12, Ty Money 11, Nathaniel Wilson three, and CJ Richardson two. Ty Money led the assist category with four followed by three a piece from Trey Simmons, Devon Lawless, and Jack Riggs, two each from Ty Lane and CJ Richardson, and one from Jacob Richerson.
Devon Lawless grabbed 10 rebounds to lead his team followed by four from Joe Melton, two each from CJ Richardson, Ty Lane, and Jack Riggs while Brendan Frost and Spencer Taylor each claimed one. Ty Money gathered five steals to lead NCOE. Others recording steals were Trey Simmons two, Devon Lawless two, and one a piece by Joe Melton, CJ Richardson, and Jack Riggs.
