Cardinals Earn Win Over Cheraw Despite FT Struggles

In a clash of ranked opponents, it is rare that one team can shoot less than 50% from the free throw line and still earn the victory. Last Friday night, McClave accomplished that feat, missing nine of 15 freebies against Cheraw, while picking up a 46-33 win.

A hot start, sparked by the bigs, had the Cards on top of the Wolverines 16-7 after the first quarter. The trio of TJ Trujillo, Kolby Brubacher and Christian Juarez, scored almost at will inside the paint. On a night when one of their top scorers, Gabe Longworth, found himself in foul trouble, the Cards needed the production out of their front line.

Cheraw could not mount any consistent rallies, often going several minutes without scoring. McClave turned one of those scoring droughts into a 36-21 lead by the end of the third period. The Wolverines had numerous chances to close the gap in the final frame, as the Cards could not convert from the foul line, but their own inconsistencies prevented them from making any headway and McClave was able to pick up the big High Plains League victory. The loss would drop Cheraw from #9 to out of the rankings, while McClave maintains its #4 ranking.

Taylor Geisinger led the Cardinal attack with 12 points, nine from beyond the arc. Trujillo finished with 11 points, while Brubacher and Juarez chipped in 10 and nine, respectively.

McClave visits #6 Cheyenne Wells on Friday, in what shapes up to be another crucial contest within the High Plains League. Saturday, the Cards will host Walsh.

By Kerry Sherman

Kerry Sherman and his wife, Colleen, moved to Lamar in August of 2013, from Anton, Colorado, to cover Southeastern Colorado high schools for Colorado Preps. Kerry is in his third year of streaming high school sports online for Colorado Preps, and this is his 23rd year of covering high schools for various print and online outlets throughout Colorado. He also has nine years of coaching experience, with the boys basketball programs at Woodlin and Otis.