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RANDOLPH - The Lady Cardinal basketball team dropped their first two games of the new year, falling to Hartington-Newcastle 56-14 in a game played in Hartington on Jan. 3 and losing to Lyons-Decatur Northeast by the same score here at home on Jan. 2 to fall to 0-9 on the season.
The Lady Wildcats held Randolph scoreless in the opening quarter, using a man defense and full court pressure to open the first frame with an 18-0 advantage heading into the second quarter.
“Hartington-Newcastle and Lyons-Decatur were both tough competitors with solid defense and full court pressure,” said Coach Jordyn Anderson. “Once we settled in we were able to drive to the basket, but our shots did not fall. I believe they will eventually.”
The Lady Cards got on the scoreboard with a couple of buckets in the second quarter and added 10 points in the second half to get to the 14-point total.
Abby Backer paced the Randolph offense with six points in the game. Lilly Kuchta and Kynlee Winkelbauer each had two.
Brooke Meier and Braylee Kelley had six and four rebounds respectively while Kuchta recorded five steals on the night.
Lyons-Decatur Northeast came to Randolph on Jan. 2 and grabbed a 19-5 lead at the end of the first eight minutes.
The lead grew to 34-7 at the half and the Lady Cougars really never looked back.
Backer and Meier each had five points to lead Randolph in scoring. Kuchta and Sydney Robinson each added two.
Winkelbauer pulled down eight rebounds on the night; Meier and Kuchta grabbed six apiece. Winkelbauer also contributed three steals.
The Lady Cardinals were to be back in action for a three-game home stand, opening with Walthill on Jan. 7 in Lewis & Clark Conference play.
Winside comes to town on Jan. 9 then Niobrara/Verdigre is slated for Jan. 14.
RHS (0-9) 0 4 4 6 - 14 HNS (7-3) 18 10 15 13 - 56 RANDOLPH: Lilly Kuchta 1-11 0-2 2; Abbey Backer 2-11 2-4 6; Kynlee Winkelbauer 0-2 2-4 2; Brooke Meier 0-8 1-2 1; Delayne Thelen 0-6 0-0 0; Braylee Kelley 0-2 0-0 0.
LDNE (4-6) 19 15 15 7 - 56 RHS (0-9) 5 2 3 4 - 14 RANDOLPH: Kuchta 0-9 2-4 2; Backer 1-12 3-4 5; Sydney Robinson 1-1 0-0 2; Winkelbauer 0-1 0-0 0; Meier 1-4 3-4 5; Thelen 0-8 0-0 0; Emily Gilliland 0-1 0-0 0.
