Cardinals Lose Final Regular Season Game at Higbee
By Mark Requet
The South Shelby Cardinals finished up the regular season with a 51-42 loss at Higbee on Friday, February 20, 2026, with the district tournament set to begin on Tuesday, February 24, at Monroe City.
Higbee took a 9-3 lead early, but back-to-back threes by Colt Schmitz and Logan Beasley tied the game at 9-9.
Schmitz hit another three to give the Cardinals a 12-9 lead with 1:15 left in the first quarter.
The Cardinals led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter.
South Shelby was limited to six points in the second quarter, with Cooper Seaton scoring four points in the quarter. Silex scored 14 points in the quarter and led 25-20 at the half.
Schmitz hit a three to open the scoring in the third quarter, followed by a basket from Seaton to tie the game at 25-25. A Schmitz three with 5:31 in the third quarter gave the Cardinals a 28-25 lead.
Higbee started to take control of the game in the third quarter and scored the next 12 points to grab a 37-28 lead.
Schmitz hit a three to stop the run and pull the Cardinals to within 37-30 with under a minute left in the third quarter.
Higbee led 39-30 after three quarters.
Peyson Larrick kept the Cardinals close in the fourth quarter. Larrick scored consecutive baskets to open the fourth quarter and pull South Shelby to within 39-34.
Beasley hit a three later in the quarter to make it 42-36 in favor of Higbee with 4:42 remaining.
Larrick scored the final six points for the Cardinals down the stretch, but Higbee held on to win 51-42.
Schmitz led the Cardinals with 14 points, including four threes, while Larrick added 12 points.
The Cardinals finish the regular season at 6-20 overall. They traveled to Monroe City on Tuesday, February 24, to play Clark County in the first round of the Class 3, District 6 Tournament. Results will be in the next issue. If the Cardinals win, they would play top seeded Palmyra in the second round on Thursday, February 26, beginning at 6 p.m. The championship game is Saturday at 3 p.m.
