Landrum’s women did not play their most solid game of the year, but the Cardinals still held off visiting Riverside, 53-31, in varsity basketball on Thursday, Dec. 8.

 Afterward, Riverside’s men outran the Cardinals, handing the hosts a 71-56 loss. However, that loss to a 5A team helped toughen the hosts. 

This evening, the Cardinals host Blue Ridge in women’s and men’s varsity games, starting at 6 p.m.

 In women’s action, “We just couldn’t get a handle on the loose balls,” Cardinal head coach Deon Brice observed. “Fortunately, our defense pulled us through the times our offense struggled. We work hard on defense, to help take the pressure off the offense. We did a great job of finding the open player on fast breaks.” 

Landrum’s Lindsey Hardin (18 points including three three-pointers) led all scorers. Teammates Sara Price (eight points), Kaylee Huntley (six), Rachel Lanford (five), Bailey Butler (four), Ellen Boatwright (four), Alyssa Davis (three), Sarah Harris (three) and Caroline Bishop (two) rounded out the winners’ scoring.

 Though Brice said the Cardinals (now 6-0 overall) are still working on playing four excellent quarters, the winners led the Warriors, 25-4 after eight minutes, and outscored them, 11-6, in the third quarter. Riverside only outscored the Cardinals by two points in each the second and fourth periods

 For the Warriors, Cline scored 17, with four three-pointers.

 Men’s action began slowly, with Riverside holding only a 10-7 lead after the first period. However, the 5A Warriors led 30-24 at the half, and used their speed to increase their lead in the second half, with a 19-9 third quarter. Though the Cardinals could not get close, they nipped the guests, 23-22, in the fourth quarter, in which they came out supercharged.

 The Cardinals, 2-2 after that contest, got 21 points, five assists, five rebounds and a steal from Trey Smith, and 17 points (along with eight rebounds) from Foster Bridges.

 In the second half, the Warriors used their speed to score underneath.

 Landrum head coach Lyn Smith described the game as a tough loss to a 5A team. “They are 6-2 (after last Thursday) and have beaten us twice. We did not shoot the ball well (at least partly credit the Warriors’ defense), and we are not a team who can come back from a large deficit.  We struggled shooting and our defense was sub par. We did well rebounding early but not for four quarters. This was a good game for us and it will help us prepare for region play on down the road.”

 Last Tuesday, Boatwright led all scorers with 15 points, as the Lady Cardinals topped host Blue Ridge  53-41. 

Hardin’s 14 points, and Huntley’s 12 also paced the Cardinals. Hardin popped two three-pointers. Landrum led, 17-6 after the first quarter, and never trailed.

 In men’s action last Tuesday, the Cardinals defeated Blue Ridge 86-74, to up their record to 2-1.

 After one quarter, Landrum led, 20-15, but Blue Ridge closed the gap to 34-33 at the half. However, the Cardinals walloped their hosts, 32-20, in the third period, to take control. 

Neither Cardinal team has played a conference team yet.

 Today, the Cardinals host Blue Ridge with women’s action getting underway at 6 p.m., and men’s to follow. On Friday evening, the Cardinals visit Spartanburg Christian Academy.