LANDRUM– Landrum, missing two starters, hardly missed a beat, as the Cardinals easily fended off a hard-playing but struggling Greer Middle College Charter High School team, 88-42, in men’s varsity basketball on Friday, Jan. 20.

 With Christian Gillie and Boyce Mccool starting in place of Turner Ussery and Jackson Kelley — both out with ankle sprains — the Cardinals not only demolished the Blazers, but held the visitors scoreless in a 19-0 first quarter. (Ussery is expected back tonight at Blacksburg) The Blazers had shots, but the relentless Cardinal defense refused to surrender a point.

 Landrum’s offense piled on 35 points in a frenzied second quarter, to give the Cards a 54-13 half-time lead. Only in the final period, did the Blazers outscore their hosts— 20-17.

 Did Cardinal head coach Lyn Smith expect such a relatively easy win?

 “They (the Blazers) have been struggling all year,” Smith replied. “I told my guys ‘no matter what, don’t lose focus.’” The Cardinals, who wouldn’t lose focus in a Sahara sandstorm, boosted their season mark to 12-5, and their region record to 3-1, as they head into this Tuesday evening’s game at Blacksburg, a tough (4-0) region rival. Tipoff is set for 7:30, following the women’s game.

 Cardinal officials were hoping that Ussery would be able to play this evening. Kelley is not expected to be in the lineup. 

The Cardinals’ first two points came on a two-for-two performance at the line by Skylar Ussery. In addition, the Cardinals out-rebounded their guests, and forced the Blazers to shoot from the outside. While the Blazers showed ability, Landrum’s torrid defense simply overpowered them. With the Cardinals already ahead, 26-1, Foster Bridges drove the length of the court, and jammed one in to make it 28-1.

 For the Cardinals, Trey Smith (26 points, six assists, four steals) and Bridges (16 points, five steals) led the parade. Mccool popped in eight points, while Dalton Lawson scored nine, and pulled down 10 rebounds. Bridges grabbed nine rebounds, and Manny Gonzalez eight.

Following tonight’s shootout at Blacksburg, the Cardinals return home to host Chesnee, another region rival, on Friday. Tipoff is set for 7:30, again, following the women’s contest.