Both the Cardinal Boys and Girls Basketball teams close out their Conference Seasons at home tonight versus the Grant Tigers.

 

For the boys this ends their roller coaster season that is ending, regardless of tonight, on quite a high. The boys took care of business this week knocking off Newaygo 49-44 on Monday then winning at Chippewa Hills the next night 47-32.

 

Monday was a makeup and vengeance for a January 4th upset at Newaygo 75-68 in overtime.

 

Tuesday was doing what had to be done. Their 47-32 game was as eventful as the score looks, but a win is a win. Coach Kent Ingles and the Cards did what they needed to for the W.

 

In the 3rd quarter Ingles essentially stopped all play and had the Cardinals play keep away to burn clock.

 

Why? Why in the 3rd quarter?

 

Chip Hills Coach Lenny Starck dropped the Warriors back into a tight 2-3 zone refusing to come out and challenge a ball handler. So Coach Ingles had DJ Lee stand at half court and milk clock for about 90 seconds before the Warriors adjusted. Big Rapids ate up another 60+ seconds playing keep away. Then repeated their ensuing 2 possessions.

 

Genius. Boring, but genius.

 

The Cardinals had gone cold from the field and the Warriors were incapable of scoring quickly all night. There's no shot clock in high school. Game set and match.

Tonight the Cards host the 11-8 Grant Tigers who have won 5 of their last 6 including upsets over Reed City and Morley Stanwood. They even lost to Fremont, at Fremont, by 1 point in overtime; 60-59. Coach Joe Schuitema's Tigers are rolling at the right time.

 

Just like Coach Ingles' Cardinals who have won 9 of their last 10. The only loss? At Fremont. In that span they're only giving up 42 points per game including 3 games of less than 35 points. 

 

With a win tonight Big Rapids finishes in a stand alone 2nd place. With a loss and a Reed City win versus the visiting Newaygo Lions, 2nd place is shared.

 

Tune to WBRN 1460, 107.7, & 96.5 for the play-by-play action of both the Lady Cardinals and the Boys Cardinals with Bryan Fongers and J.T. Scarpelli starting at 5:45p tonight (2/22/2019).

 

You can also stream the game via the Betten Baker Chevy Buick GMC Live Stream here!