Cardinal Boys Advance To State With District Win

St. Mary's Gage Hedstrom (24) goes up for a jumper in action against Stuart on Thursday, Feb. 22 in O'Neill.

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St. Mary's Ben Barlow (1) drives into Parkview Christian's Terance Pittman (4) on Monday, Feb. 26 in Madison.

The St. Mary's Cardinals are into the postseason and started sub-district play on Feb. 20 against the now 8-15 CWC Renegades. The Cardinals soundly defeated the Renegades 69-27.

The Cardinal defense held the Renegades to 12 in the first half  with Michael Jesse putting up 13 for the Renegades and the only Renegade to hit double digits scoring on the night. The Cards sent in the bench in the second half to finish the game for the win.

The Renegades' Beau Butterfield had five points with three rebounds and one steal; Daniel Kluver with four points and one rebound and one steal; Elijah Heinz two points four rebounds and four steals; William Jesse two points and five rebounds; and Aidan Maddux with one point and one rebound.

Gage Hedstrom led the Cardinals with 25 points, shooting 60 percent of three pointers hitting six of 10 and he had four rebounds and four steals; Logan Brabec had 15 points  making three three-pointers and one rebound and three steals; Ben Barlow 14 points, two rebounds and two steals; Cameron Vogt three points and one rebound; Sam Barlow three points and two rebounds; Xzavier Parks three points; Max Berg two points and four rebounds; Eli Banks two points, and one rebound; and Drake Berg two points and one rebound.

SMH    20 10 22 17 69

CWC 5 7 10 5 27

On Thursday, Feb. 22 the boys played against a tough Stuart Bronco team in a sub-district final downing them 58-40. The Cardinals last bout with the Broncos was on Jan. 25 when the Cardinals squeaked by them 50-49. 

The Cardinals jumped out to a 16-6 lead with Hedstrom sinking three-three pointers to put the hurt on the Broncos. Hedstom had a fantastic game hitting six of 12 three pointers and shooting 100 percent from the charity stripe for 26 points on the night. Hedstrom had eight rebounds and four steals for the match. The Cards kept up the energy and lead at the half 37-17.

The Cards roll slowed in the third stanza as the Broncos held the Cardinals to seven points and put on 13 of their own. The Card's fast offense kept up the pressure on Stuart with Ben Barlow putting up 13 points, hitting three  three-pointers with Barlow having four rebounds and one steal; Dannenbring had nine points, two rebounds and one steal; Brabec six points, two rebounds and six steals; Banks two points and one  rebound; and Dawson two points and four rebounds.

SMH    21 16 7 14 58

SHS 9 8 13 10 40

The win propelled the St. Mary's boys into a district match in Madison on Monday, Feb. 26 against Parkview Christian. Parkview beat Nebraska City Sacred Heart in their district final 67-61.

The Cardinal boys faced off against the Parkview Christian Patriots on Monday evening, defeating them 81-58 for the district championship and a berth to the Nebraska Boys State Basketball tourney next week. The meeting brought doubts from fans alike as the last meeting between the two schools was at the 2022 Nebraska State Basketball tourney where the Patriots gave the Cards a harsh lashing, beating them 64-48.

Hedstrom and Ben Barlow were key in the 23 point victory at Madison.

Gage  had a wowing 35 points,  shooting 60 percent in the inside game and was three for eight on the three point side and a 100 percent from the free throw line. He also ended with 13 rebounds and two steals. Ben Barlow threw in 21 points hitting four of 10 three pointers and had six rebounds; Brabec had 14 points with three of 12 three pointers going in and shot three of four for 75 percent in free throws; Carson Dannenbring had four points and six rebounds; Risken Dawson four points and five rebounds; and Eli Banks three points and four rebounds.

SMH    15 16 18 32 81

PVC 16 8 15 19 58

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