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Boys score two comeback wins
RANDOLPH - Two big comebacks produced two big wins for the Randolph Cardinals to open the 2025 portion of the the basketball schedule.
The Cardinals were down 13-2 on the road at Hartington-Newcastle on Jan. 3 before coming back to win it 58-56. The Cards were down 10 points with four minutes left in regulation before coming back to tie the score then win in overtime over Lyons-Decatur Northeast 61-56 on Jan. 2 in a game played in Randolph.
Randolph didn't let the sluggish start get in the way against the Wildcats, getting back to within 17-12 at the end of the first frame, then getting to within a single point by the intermission.
Hartington-Newcastle added a basket to the advantage at the end of three, but the Cards battled back, outscoring the Wildcats 17-12 in the final eight minutes to claim their second consecutive win by a 58-56 final score.
'It was a very rough game with tons of adversity for us,' said Coach Cory Simpson. 'But these Cardiac Cards showed they know how to win. I couldn't be happier for these kids.'
Logan Lienemann and Brecken Shearer paced the Cardinal offensive attack with 18 and 16 points respectively. Luke Harder chipped in with 12.
Ryan Engel added seven and Adrian Samano recorded five.
Against the Cougars in Randolph the night before, the Cards trailed by 10 with just four minutes left in the fourth and found a way to get back to 50-50 at the end of regulation.
'Our theme for the week was 'believe in yourself,' and we certainly did,' Simpson said. 'We really grew as individuals and as a team in the game. We had a number of kids step up and play their hearts out. It was a great win for 11 great kids.'
Randolph outscored LDNE 11-6 in the extra session to come away with the win.
Lienemann poured in 23 points on the night to lead all scorers with Engel adding 16. Harder again hit double figures with 11.
The Cardinals began a two-game home stand against the Walthill Blujays on Jan. 7.
They will be back in action Jan. 9 when they will host Winside before hitting the road to take on Niobrara/ Verdigre on Jan. 14.
RHS (3-4) 12 15 14 17 - 58 H-N (2-7) 17 11 16 12 - 56 RANDOLPH: Logan Lienemann 5 4-4 18; Ryan Engel 3 1-1 7; Luke Harder 4 2-5 12; Adrian Samano 2 1-2 5; Brecken Shearer 6 0-0 16.
LDNE (4-6) 8 12 12 18 6 - 56 RHS (3-4) 13 13 16 8 11 - 61 RANDOLPH: Lienemann 8 4-6 23; Engel 5 4-8 16; Lucas Bartels 1 0-0 2; Harder 4 3-2 11; Samano 3 0-0 6; Shearer 1 0-0 3.
