Cards pick up two wins; drop one

The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura boys started the week strong, picking up two big wins, but they dropped a close one to Osage to finish off the week.

GHV 75, North Iowa 23

Following the opening game of the season for the GHV boys, there is no doubt they are going to be a force to be reckoned with.  The Cardinals trounced North Iowa (0-1, 0-1), 75-23, on the road Tuesday, Dec. 1.

There wasn’t much competition for the GHV boys in the first half.  The Cardinal defense held the Bison to just 13 first half points, while the offense was on a tear, collecting 48-points.

“We got off to a pretty good start by feeding Sam Cataldo in the post and forcing some turnovers that led to some layups,” said Coach Joe Albertson.

The second half wasn’t any easier for North Iowa.  The Cardinals outscored the Bison 18-4 in the third quarter, 66-17.  The bench was cleared in the fourth quarter, with the subs scoring nine more points for the final, 75-23.

Three players reached double figures for the Cardinals.  Sam Cataldo led with 18-points, followed by Jonathan O’Connor with 13 and Payton James with 11.  James Betz contributed nine points and Ben Baumgard and Alex Goll had six-points apiece.  James was 3/5 from the three-point arc.

Cataldo and Goll led the team under the boards with six rebound apiece.  O’Connor, Harley Forry and Holden Hutcheson grabbed four each.

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

[wlm_ismember]

O’Connor and James led the team in steals with three each.  Forry led in assists with six.

GHV 60, Forest City 42

Strong team work by the Cardinals set up a 60-42 victory over Top of Iowa Conference West Division rival Forest City on Thursday, Dec. 3.

The Cardinals are boasting strong performances in the post, with 6’6” senior Sam Cataldo being joined by 6’7” freshman newcomer James Betz.  Betz is opening the season with style, with two of his field goals coming with impressive dunks.

But it’s not just the play under the basket that teams have to worry about.  The Cardinals aren’t afraid to take the three either.  GHV hit seven three-pointers.

The Cardinals were a bit slow out of the gate, only managing a slight 16-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.  GHV got rolling in the second quarter for a 37-23 lead at half.

“Throughout the first half we had trouble rotating on defense and Forest City made us pay for it,” said Albertson.  “Payton James  and Jonathan O’Connor really got it going from outside.”

The second half was a little tighter, with the Indians scoring 19-points, while the Cards collected 23 for the final 60-42 victory.

Cataldo and O’Connor both hit double figures.  Cataldo dumped in 17-points and O’Connor added 12.  James scored seven-points, while Holden Hutcheson and Harley Forry scored six and five-points respectively.

Betz led the team in rebounds, hauling in eight.  Cataldo was right behind with seven rebounds and O’Connor grabbed five.

Cataldo had four blocked shots, while Betz knocked down three.  Forry led the team in assists with six.  O’Connor, Forry and Betz had two steals apiece.

Osage 56, GHV 51

Lessons are learned after each game, and GHV learned some the hard way after they dropped a tight contest to Osage on Friday, Dec. 4.

Holden Hutcheson came ready to play Friday night.  He scored the first seven points for GHV to take an early 7-2 lead.  Osage worked hard and knotted the score at 11-11 before Sam Cataldo added a bucket and a free throw to end the first quarter with a 14-11 lead.  Osage outscored the Cardinals 15-14 in the second quarter for a very close halftime score of 28-26.

“Again we had trouble rotating on defense and left too many open looks and we let Osage climb back into the game,” said Coach Joe Albertson.

The Green Devils took the lead early in the third quarter.  A Harley Forry three-point shot tied the game at 38-38, but again Osage got the lead and this time they held on to it.  With 2:24 remaining in the fourth quarter the Cardinals were within one-point, 51-50, but fouls doomed GHV.  The final six-points of the game went to the Green Devils on free throws.  Osage won the contest, 56-51.

“Osage answered all our second half runs,” said Albertson.

Cataldo had a double-double for the night with 17-points and 12 rebounds.  He also had three blocked shots, one assist and one steal.

Jonathan O’Connor and Hutcheson also hit double figures with 13 and 10 points respectively.  O’Connor was hot from the three-point arc, connecting on 3/4.

Other rebounding leaders included James Betz with eight and Hutcheson grabbed six.

Turner Albertson led the team in assists with four.

The Cardinals host Belmond-Klemme Friday night.

[/wlm_ismember]