SPOKANE VALLEY — After a mediocre season last year with an 8-15 overall record, it may have taken new head coach Jordan Starr’s 2019 pre-season prediction that the Cardinal boys basketball team would likely take second in the Northeast A League as wishful thinking.
But as the season pans-out the prediction may have been a bit humble for the scrappy, do-or-die Cardinals who, after eight games in which they’ve lost only one non-league game, are currently tied with Deer Park at 2-0 in the NEA.
Medical Lake played two non-league games during the holiday break, beating both Sandpoint and Selkirk at the Eagle Holiday Classic at West Valley High School.
Medical Lake vs. Sandpoint
The Cardinals took on the 4-3 Sandpoint Bulldogs of the Inland Empire League on Thursday, Dec. 26, taking a quick and decisive 10-point lead in the first half. But the Bulldogs came out in the third quarter with stronger resolve to outscore Medical Lake 14-11 to narrow the gap to seven.
The Cardinals came back with both a more focused offense and defense in the fourth, fighting to successfully maintain their lead for a 28-50 victory.
“Sandpoint was a really well rounded team,” Starr said, calling them one of the Cardinal’s toughest opponents so far this season. “I thought we played a great team defense and stopped a good scoring offense.”
Jordan Petersen led scoring for the Cardinals with 20, followed by Nick Mason with 15 and Ashton Hamilton-Becker with 14.
“We shot well from the 3-point line and came out with great energy,” Starr said.
Medical Lake vs. Selkirk
The next day the Cardinals faced Northeast 1B North league-leading Selkirk (5-0, 5-4), making quick work of the Rangers.
“I thought we came out a little flat in the first half,” Starr said, “but found some energy and toughness at half and were able to push our lead up to a comfortable lead.”
He was again being modest.
The Cardinals outscored the Rangers by 13 points, going into the locker room with a 39-26 lead at the half, then coming back in the third to score 16 points to the Rangers 12 before sealing the deal in the fourth to outscore Selkirk by 17 points for a final 81-47 blowout win.
“I thought we moved the ball really well,” Starr said. “We pushed in transition and made the extra pass in a lot of situations.”
Mason played a complete game with 22 points, “and did an excellent job in the second half defending their best scorer,” added Starr.
Hamilton-Becker finished with 16, with Nathan Jasmer shooting 13 and Petersen 10.
“In all, a really good two early morning games for the Cardinals,” Starr said of the tournament, adding that the Cardinals were planning to carry their current momentum into their upcoming NEA league games.
Medical Lake is scheduled to face Riverside (0-1, 4-5) on Friday, Jan. 3 at 3:30 p.m. on the road, then travel to Deer Park the following Friday, Dec. 10 with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.
Lee Hughes can be reached at [email protected].
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