Cardinals prep for league play

COLVILLE - The Medical Lake boys will take a 9-3 record into the start of Northeast A League play Jan. 16.

The Cardinals had a productive week where their non-league win streak improved to six in a row with victories over Lind-Ritzville/Sprague, 65-42 on Jan. 7 and Davenport, 75-59, Jan. 9 but was ended, Jan. 11 with a loss at Davenport, 91-49.

"We did some great things against Lind Ritzville and Davenport," head coach Brett Ward wrote in an email. "Saturday was tough. We started the game out well, but were definitely worn down by their size, strength, speed," he added of the Reardan game.

The Cardinals came out of the halftime break leading just 31-27 at home but won the third quarter 16-4. Lebo Holloway led the Cards with 16 points while Gabe Smith added 14.

Against visiting Davenport, Medical Lake flipped the script starting strong and leading 43-29 at halftime. Smith scored 30 and Hudson Gilbert added 23. Both are freshmen.

Following a good start, a 12-12 tie after the first quarter, Reardan turned up the offense. The 12-1 Screaming Eagles would lead 36-23 at halftime and added a 29-point third.

Smith was the only Cardinal in double figures with 15 points.

"Reardan is one of the best small schools in the state," Ward said. "They have size, skill, athleticism, and play really hard."

Medical Lake, 9-3, now embarks on a sprint through the very balanced NEA with six league games in the next month. First up is Colville (5-5) on Jan. 16 with one final non-league contest at Kettle Falls, Jan. 18.

"Last week was great for us to see we are good, but we still have room for improvement," Ward said.