Cardinals post first win

Cardinals post first win Split games over past week

RANDOLPH - The Randolph Cardinal boys basketball team dropped its final game before the Christmas break to a oneloss Archangels Catholic team here Dec. 20, 59-50, but claimed its first win of the season on Dec. 17, 60-50 on the road in Creighton to end up 1-4 on the season.

Archangels Catholic, formerly Humphrey St. Francis, came to town as a prohibitive favorite, but the Cardinals had other ideas.

“The game with Archangels was a true test and I felt we showed how much potential we have,” said Randolph Coach Cory Simpson. “We came up short but it wasn’t from a lack of heart. I couldn’t be more proud of their effort and determination.”

Randolph went ahead of the Defenders 17-13 at the end of the opening eight minutes of the night, but Archangels erased the deficit and took a four-point advantage into the intermission.

They added five points to the lead in the third and the teams headed into the final frame with the Defenders in front by nine which is the margin of victory at the end of the game.

Logan Lienemann had the hot hand on the night pouring in 15 points. Luke Harder added 13; Lucas Bartles tacked on seven and Ryan Engel recorded six.

In the win over the Bulldogs, the Cards ran out to a 24-11 lead in the first quarter.

“We started fast but it was a hard fought game,” Simpson said. “We played all four quarters and finished strong.”

Randolph got defensive in the third quarter after the teams played to an 11-11 stalemate in the second quarter, the Cardinals allowed just three points to Creighton in the third period and ended the stanza with a 47-25 advantage heading into the final frame.

The Bulldogs exploded for 25 points in the final eight minutes, but the Cards held on for the 10-point win.

Lienemann paved the way again for the Randolph offense with 21 points. Harder contributed 18 and Engel hit double figures with 11.

“I couldn’t be happier for this incredible group of young men,” Simpson said.

The Cardinals will be off until next year when they will take on Lyons-Decatur Northeast Jan. 2 in a game scheduled for December that Mother Nature got postponed.

The Cougars will come to Randolph for the game.

AC (6-1) 13 14 19 13 - 59 RAN (1-4) 17 6 14 13 - 50 RANDOLPH: Logan Lienemann 15; Dayton Winkelbauer 6; Ryan Engel 6; Lucas Bartels 7; Kody Junck 1; Luke Harder 13; Adrian Samano 2.

RAN 24 11 12 13 - 60 CRE 11 11 3 25 - 50 RANDOLPH: Lienemann 21; Winkelbauer 3; Engel 11; Bartels 1; Harder 18; Samano 6.