Cards pick up two wins to continue District play

(Above) GHV’s Sam Cataldo shoots over an Eagle Grove defender. 

[caption id="attachment_15901" align="alignleft" width="270"] GHV freshman James Betz slams home two points in Monday night’s matchup against Eagle Grove. Betz had 15-points and seven rebounds for the Cardinals in the 81-26 victory. -Reporter photos by Chris Barragy[/caption]

The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura boys opened Class 2A District 3 tournament strong in hopes that the trail ends at Wells Fargo Arena at the State Tournament.  The Cardinals picked up two wins and were scheduled to meet Southeast Valley in a District final matchup on Tuesday, Feb. 23 in Humboldt.

GHV 81, Eagle Grove 26

Every player on Garner-Hayfield-Ventura basketball team had a hand in a huge victory over Eagle Grove in the first game of the Class 2A District 3 tournament.  Everyone on the GHV roster scored in the 81-26 romp on Monday, Feb. 15.

“I am very proud of how hard the team has played this season,” said Coach Joe Albertson.  “They should feel proud about going undefeated at home.”

Eagle Grove hung in there for the first quarter, only trailing by six, 18-12.  The second quarter was a different story, as the Cardinal scoring machine kicked it into high gear.  Aided by four three-point shots by Payton James, GHV led 40-18 by halftime.

The Cardinals didn’t let up after the break, outscoring the Eagles 23-3 in the third quarter.  The bench was cleared in the fourth quarter and every player got their name in the record book.  The reserves held Eagle Grove to just five fourth quarter points, while they collected 18 for the final 81-26 victory.

Three GHV players scored in double figures.  James led the team with 17 points, followed by James Betz and Sam Cataldo with 15 and 14 points respectively.  Harley Forry added six.

Betz led the team under the boards with seven rebounds.  Nick Joynt grabbed five and Cataldo pulled down four.

In addition to being 4/9 from the three-point line, James also led the team in assists with seven.  Turner Albertson dished out five and Forry had four assists.  Forry also had a good night from behind the three point line, with a perfect 2/2.

Albertson led the team in steals with three, while Chase Theobald grabbed two.  Cataldo had two blocked shots and Joynt and Connor Burke each had one block.

GHV 52, PAC/L-M 41

The GHV boys had a few obstacles against them Thursday night when they traveled two hours away to face Pocahontas Area/Laurens Marathon (18-4) in a 2A District Semifinal game.

“We were in a gym we had never played in, we had a smaller fan base due to State wrestling and we were up against a team that could match us in size,” said Coach Joe Albertson.  “However, even though things were not in our favor, the boys battled to keep it close.”

Both teams came ready to play.  PAC/L-M took a first quarter score, 11-8.  A three-point shot by Johnathan O’Connor tied the score, 11-11, but the Indians again pulled ahead for a first quarter lead, 17-13.  PAC/L-M held a three point lead heading into the half time break, 23-20.

The third quarter was more of the same, with the Indians pulling ahead by six, 34-28, before a Payton James trey brought the score closer, 34-31, to end the third quarter.

With 5:51 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals took their first lead of the game, 37-36.  The score was tied with 3:47 remaining, 39-39.  In the final minutes of the game, GHV connected on 7/12 freethrows to help them seal a 52-41 victory and the chance to move on in District action.

“Down the stretch we guarded the perimeter well and forced their post into tough shots or passes out of the block.  Our fans were loud and helped us keep the momentum at the end of the game,” said Albertson.

Cataldo led the team with a double-double of 14-points and 10 rebounds.  O’Connor also hit double figures with 10-points.  James Betz wasn’t far behind with nine points and James ended the night with seven points.

Betz led the team in rebounds with 12, while Nick Joynt hauled in six and James pulled down five.

O’Connor led the team in assists with four.

Cataldo had a whopping eight blocked shots in the game.