There were plenty of excuses for a possible letdown on Tuesday night as the Landrum boys’ basketball team hosted region foe Southside Christian.
The Cardinals were missing four players, including two starters who are the leading scorers for the team, and three others didn’t practice all week. In total, eight players missed practice.
Landrum didn’t need excuses however en route to a commanding 89-50 victory. With leading scorers Truston Whiteside and Tyler Logan on the bench, senior point guard Austin Brown was ready to step up and take control.
“I had to push to keep the team positive,” the senior said. Push he did as Brown scored 12 points and dished out ten assists to lead the Cardinals. Four other Cardinals joined Brown with double-digit points.
Two of Brown’s assists came in the first few minutes of the game – one to Jake Henson for two and the other to Cole McDowell for three. Henson finished with 12 points and McDowell finished with 11 points, including three three-pointers.  Freshman Aaron Bryant scored 16.
The Cardinals jumped on the Sabres early, dominating the first quarter with a 28-8 lead. Mark Wilson scored eight points in the first and finished with 11 points.
“In practice (head) coach (Lyn) Smith tells us that speed kills,” McDowell said. “We were able to get the ball and push up court tonight.”
The first quarter was just what the doctor ordered, Smith said.
“They came out and played hard,” he said. “We set the tone early.”