Team ranked fourth in tight state 1A standings
MEDICAL LAKE — The Cardinals enjoyed a solid past week in all-league play, beating Lakeside, destroying Colville, then going on to a decisive victory against Riverside the for a five-game winning streak and only one loss in their last 14 games as they set their sights on a competitive playoff bid.
On the road at Lakeside (2-6,5-11) on Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Cards made a slow start before gaining steam to go on and notch a 60-53 win despite an Eagles 27-16 lead at the half.
But in the second half it was all Cardinals, who came out and dominated the hardwood, winning the half with an 18-point margin and the game by seven points.
Jordan Petersen led scoring with 17, followed by Eugene Haas III with 14, Nick Mason with 13 and Ashton Hamilton-Becker 9.
The following Friday Medical Lake found themselves at home facing Colville (3-6, 6-11) — who challenged the Cardinals earlier in the season in a narrow 1-point overtime road win — and their 6-foot-5, 290-pound forward Jory Dotts.
It was no contest, as Medical Lake literally ran circles around the all-state football lineman in their lopsided 49-point win over the Indians with an aggressive “hands-up” defense, and sloppy offense by the Indians.
“We needed one,” head coach Jordan Starr said of the blowout victory. “We’ve had so many close ballgames. It was good for our offense. We were ready for them tonight.”
Both Mason and Petersen had a strong night offensively with 19 and 17 points respectively, while Haas, Hamilton-Becker and Andres Burdujan contributed with eight-points apiece.
On Saturday Medical Lake took on Northeast A League last-place Riverside (1-7, 5-11) at home in another decisive 70-55 win.
It was a surprisingly close game, with Riverside outscoring the Cardinals in the second and fourth quarters by two points each, but was not enough to overcome the initial 12-point lead in the first quarter and additional seven-point lead in the third.
Mason had a career night unleashing a whopping 27 points with help from Hamilton-Becker with 12 and Haas with 11.
Medical Lake advances their league record to 7-1 and 14-2 overall to gain a fourth-place WIAA RPI ranking in the state 1A poll, trailing first-place Seattle Academy and second and third place Zillah and Riverview High School in Kennewick. Cashmere, with the toughest schedule in the league, is nipping at the Cards heels at No. 5.
The Cardinals had a break this week before their premier league game of the year when they face NEA No. 2 Deer Park (6-2, 11-4) tomorrow, Jan. 31, for the first time this season after two previous games were postponed due to weather. No rest for the weary, they then take on No. 4 Newport on Tuesday, Feb. 4, followed by No. 3 Freeman on Thursday.
They end the regular season the next day, Friday, Feb. 7 when they again take on Deer Park before heading into post-season play.
Lee Hughes can be reached at [email protected].
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