Did it matter that Landrum’s women scored just 42 points against visiting St. Joseph’s Catholic in varsity women’s basketball on Tuesday, Jan. 31?

 

Probably not, as the Cardinals held the Knights to 26, in boosting the Cardinals’ overall season record to 17-2, and their region record to 7-1.

 

“This was our worst offensive night,” Landrum head coach Deon Brice admitted. However, he added, “I felt we did what we needed to do . . . We’re going to the region, but I’m trying to get them ready for the playoffs.

 

While Brice has sometimes noted his team’s mostly on, but occasionally off, performance, he’s gone out of his way to compliment the players as being a great bunch to coach.

 

Basically, what the Cardinals needed to do was overcome a 6-6 first quarter. They did that, powering past the Knights, 13-6, in the second period, and finishing the game with a 14-6 fourth.

 

In the first half, the Cardinals mostly forced the Knights outside, and, as such, were able to wrest the lead from them. The Cardinal defense was able to keep the Knights’ Maeve McNamara from blowing the game open.

 

“Number 11 (McNamara) is their big scorer,” Brice explained. “Everything runs through her.”

 

The Cardinals took a 3-0 first-quarter lead, when Ellen Boatwright passed to Lindsey Hardin (who led with 18 points) and Hardin popped a three pointer. The second period ended on a two-pointer by Landrum’s Kaylee Huntley, giving the Cards a 19-12 lead, after the ball spun around the inside of the rim several times, and finally dropped through the net.

 

After Hardin, Boatwright (eight points), Sara Price (seven) and Huntley (six) led the Cardinals. Sarah Harris chipped in three.

 

This evening, the Cardinals visit region rival Christ Church Episcopal, one of only two teams to top the Cardinals this season.

 

On Feb. 7, the Cardinals visit Greer Middle College. Their last game of the regular season will be Feb. 9, when the Cardinals host Blacksburg, whom the Cardinals edged 78-70 when the two teams met at Blacksburg.