Cardinals Win Third at Monroe City Tournament
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
By Mark Requet
The South Shelby Cardinals defeated Marion County 69-53 on Saturday, December 14, 2024, to win third place in the Monroe City Tournament.
The Cardinals jumped out to an early 15-4 lead to start the game, with Pryce Eagan scoring 10 points, including two threes.
Marion County tried to close the gap, but South Shelby led 21-12 after one quarter.
Back-to-back buckets by Gabe Bowen to open the second quarter gave the Cardinals a 25-12 lead with 6:48 left in the first half.
Marion County cut the lead to 27-23 with 4:25 to go in the half, but the Cardinals were able to hold them off. Cooper Elsen hit a three, which was later followed by an 8-0 run with buckets from Preston Elsen and Draden Black, and a three by Bowen to give the Cardinals a 37-25 lead with 55 seconds left in first half. South Shelby led 37-28 at the half.
South Shelby used a 9-2 run to open the second half and build the lead to 46-30 with 5:04 left in the third quarter.
Both teams continued to trade baskets as the Cardinals led 54-46 after three quarters.
Preston Elsen scored six straight points midway through the fourth quarter to help the Cardinals secure the 69-53 win and give South Shelby the third placy trophy.
Eagan led the Cardinals with 21 points, followed by Preston Elsen with 10 points. Cooper Seaton added eight points.
South Shelby 35
Palmyra 43
The Cardinals squared off against the top seeded Panthers of Palmyra on Thursday, December 12, and lost 43-35 in the semi-final game.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the first quarter with Cooper Elsen’s basket with 3:50 on the clock.
Palmyra charged back and took a 9-8 lead with 55 seconds left, but Black gave the Cardinals a 10-9 lead with 14 seconds left.
Palmyra hit a three at the buzzer to give the Panthers a 12-10 lead
after the first quarter.
Both teams continued to battle in the second quarter. Black hit a bucket to tie the game at 12. Later in the quarter, Eagan hit back-to-back shots, draining a three, followed by a two point bucket, giving the Cardinals a 17-16 lead with 4:19 left in the first half.
The Panthers closed out the second quarter on a 9-3 run to take a 25-20 lead at the half.
South Shelby’s only bucket in the third quarter came on a three by Preston Elsen that beat the buzzer to pull the Cardinals to within 33-24.
Eagan hit a three, followed by a two to open the fourth quarter to pull the Cardinals to within 33-29 with 4:38 left.
Waylen Owens hit two threes down the stretch for the Cardinals, but the Panthers were too much as South Shelby would fall 43-35 in the semi-final game.
Eagan led the Cardinals in scoring with 13 points.
South Shelby 78
Highland 38
The Cardinals defeated the Highland Cougars 78-38 in the opening round of the tournament.
South Shelby led 28-9 after the first quarter and 54-27 at the half.
Eagan led the Cardinals with 21 points, followed by Owens with 15 points and Colt Schmitz with 12 points.
Owens, Bowen, and Seaton each finished with five rebounds.
