Cardinals head into break on a winning streak

(Above) GHV’s Connor Burke leads a fast break down the floor in Tuesday night’s game against Eagle Grove.  Also pictured for GHV is Nick Joynt (10) and Logan Dalbeck (31).  -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy

The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura boys got to head into the holiday break on a winning streak after collecting three big Top of Iowa Conference victories.  The Cards moved their record to 7-0, 7-1.

GHV 59, Lake Mills 37

A run late in the game helped GHV to pick up a huge win over number 10 (Class 1A) Lake Mills (4-1, 6-0) on Monday, Dec. 19.

The Cards took an early 7-3 lead, but the Bulldogs knotted the score at 9-9 with 2:14 remaining in the half.  The rest of the first quarter went to Lake Mills, who sunk a couple of threes for a 17-14 lead.

“We did a better job forcing them to put the ball on the floor in the second quarter,” said Coach Joe Albertson.

Johnny O’Connor opened the second quarter with a three-pointer.  The Bulldogs only managed five points in the second quarter, while GHV pumped in 14, for a halftime score of 25-19.

Lake Mills started closing the gap in the third quarter behind some three-point shots and closed the gap to 31-30 with 4:55 remaining in the game.  The Bulldogs, however, stalled on the 30 point mark, while the Cardinals went on a 22-point unanswered run to go up 53-30.  The subs took over with 2:50 remaining in the game, as GHV cruised to an easy 59-37 victory.

“The story of the night was how well the defense played in the third and fourth quarters.  When you can hold your opponent to two points during an 11-minute stretch, you are going to win some games,” said Albertson.

Sophomore James Betz had a stellar night for the Cards, pumping in 18-points.  He had seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot.

“James was great in the paint tonight.  He got us going,” said Albertson.

O’Connor and Nick Joynt also scored in double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively.  Ryan Meyers added eight, Jared Graham had  seven and Chase Theobald added five.

Other rebounding leaders included Joynt with six and O’Connor pulled down four.

Meyers and O’Connor led the team in assists with five apiece.  O’Connor and Joynt each had three steals.

GHV 90, Eagle Grove 40

The Cards faced Eagle

[wlm_nonmember]To read more of this article, please login or sign up for our E-Edition[/wlm_nonmember]

[wlm_ismember]

Grove (1-5, 2-6) at home on Tuesday, Dec. 19.

“I was worried our legs would be tired from the game the night before.  I was worried our guys would overlook Eagle Grove after the win at Lake Mills.  I didn’t have to worry long, because the guys got it rolling and didn’t stop,” said Coach Joe Albertson.

GHV opened strong with a 20-12 first quarter lead.  Chase Theobald and Logan Dalbeck came off the bench and combined for 15 points in the first half for a 49-23 lead by halftime.

The second half was more of the same, as the Cardinals outscored the Eagles 41-17 on their way to the final 90-40 victory.

“All 15 players made a number of good plays,” said Albertson.  “I was impressed that the boys could put up 90 points in back-to-back games.”

Five players scored in double figures for the Cards.  James Betz led the way with 14, followed closely by Nick Joynt with 12, Johnny O’Connor and Ray Cataldo each had 11 and Dalbeck had 10.

Meyers led the team under the boards with seven rebounds.  Dalbeck grabbed five and Betz hauled in four.

Jared Graham led the team in assists, dishing out seven.  Meyers had four assists and Jack Van Dusseldorp and Holden Hutcheson had three apiece.  Collecting two steals apiece were Joynt, Dalbeck and Meyers.

GHV 65, Humboldt 51

The Cardinals met a hot shooting team the night before the holiday break when they hosted Humboldt on Thursday, Dec. 22.

Nick Joynt was unstoppable, scoring the Cardinals’ first 12 points of the game.  The Wildcats hit back-to-back threes to end the first quarter trailing by two, 17-15.

Humboldt took the lead behind another three-point shot, 23-22.  Joynt and Logan Dalbeck each had baskets to give the Cards a 26-23 lead at the half.

GHV continued to stretch the lead in the second half.  The Wildcats got to within nine points, 49-40, with :28 seconds remaining in the third quarter, but from there it was all Cardinals, as they cruised to the 65-51 victory.

“Holden Hutcheson did another great job running the team.  He has been patient, smart and careful directing the team in the half court,” said Albertson.

Joynt had his best night of the season, racking up 24-points, six rebounds and three assists.

Coach Albertson praised the play of Ryan Meyers who was hitting treys and attacking the rim.  Meyers was a perfect three-for-three from behind the three-point arc.  He ended the night with 17-points.

James Betz and Johnny O’Connor each had eight points.

Betz led the team in rebounds with 10.  He also had three assists, three steals and two blocked shots.

O’Connor and Hutcheson had six and five assists respectively.

[/wlm_ismember]