By Mark Requet
The South Shelby Cardinals traveled to Higbee on Friday, February 16, 2024, and lost 60-51.
Higbee started off the game hot from three point territory and took an early 12-4 lead.
Chance Rainey scored eight first quarter points for the Cardinals, but South Shelby trailed 17-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Pryce Eagan hit two threes in the second quarter, the second shot cutting the deficit to 24-20 witth 4:37 leftt in the first half.
Noah Wilt and Rainey followed with back-to-back buckets to tie the game at 24-24 with 2:45 left in the second quarter.
The Cardinals outscored Higbee 17-13 in the second quarter, but trailed 30-27 a the half.
A three by Jaaron Durbin early in the third quarter, followed by a three by Mason Pfannenstiel cut the deficit to 35-33 with 5:14 left in the third quarter. Higbee led 41-35 after three quarters.
Higbee started to stretch out the lead in the fourth quarter, taking a 54-43 lead late in the game. Preston Elsen hit a three with 2:14 left to cut the score to 54-46, but Higbee was on its way to a 60-51 win.
Rainey led the Cardinals with 15 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Wilt with 14 points and seven rebounds.
The Cardinals, 14-12 overall, squared off against Mark Twain in the first round of the Class 3, District 6 Tournament in Palmyra on Tuesday. Results will be in next week’s issue. With a win, the Cardinals would face the winner of the Monroe City/Louisiana game on Thursday, February 22, at 7:30 p.m. at Palmyra High School.
