Landrum scored two early season basketball wins over cross-state rival Polk County, when the teams met on the Cardinals’ court Tuesday evening.

In the varsity opener, the Cardinals outshot the Wolverines, 21-4 in the first quarter, and cruised to a 64-23 win. The Cardinals’ Sara Price led all scorers with 18 points, while Autumn Owen’s 10 paced the Wolverines. Ellen Boatwright added 16 for Landrum.

“We just utilized our speed,” assessed Cardinal’s women’s coach Deon Brice.

Brice noted that once his team had the momentum and a lead, thier shooters could relax. “It’s still early for both teams,” Brice noted. “Hopefully, we’ll keep getting better.

Brice praised Boatwright, whose 28 points helped the Cardinals win the recent Woodruff Tournament.

“She really stepped up,” he observed of Boatwright who is the Cardinals’ current Athlete of the Week.

In later men’s action, both squads came out roaring, but after Polk’s James Wingo’s field goal gave the Wolverines a 2-0 lead, the Cardinals forged ahead, never trailed, and won, 85-55.

In the men’s game, “We flat out got after it, and played hard,” said Cardinals’ head coach Lyn Smith. “They played a solid four quarters. The intensity, the teamwork, was outstanding. I love it!”

Early deadly shooting by Trey Smith put the Cardinals ahead, while Smith and his teammates kept the nets dancing, and pressured their opponents.

Coach Smith noted that Trey Smith added some 23 pounds since last season, and exhibits more power, along with his speed.

“Our freshman point-guard, Turner Ussery, played very well,” Lyn Smith added. “It was a great game, a great rivalry.

Both Cardinals’ varsity squads will visit Riverside Thursday, Dec. 1, with women’s action starting at 6 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 7:30.