The Cardinals have been more like the Cardiac Cardinals this season.
They finished the regular season with a 14-3 record with six of their 14 wins coming by four points or less, including a pair of three-point wins this past week.
The Cardinal boys opened up the week with a 58-55 victory over Pipestone Area in Pipestone on March 11. The next day the Cardinals defeated Blue Earth Area 73-70 in Luverne.
LHS 58, PAS 55
The Arrows were the only team other than Marshall to defeat Luverne this season. On Thursday the Cardinals exacted a little revenge by topping Pipestone 58-55.
The visiting Cardinals owned a 29-22 halftime lead. In the second half, the Arrows outscored Luverne 33-29, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the seven-point halftime deficit.
Gannon Ahrendt led the Cardinals with 24 points. The talented sophomore also grabbed six rebounds and recorded three steals.
Senior guard Bailey Cowell scored 21 points, dished out six assists, and recorded three steals.
Jayson Rops chipped in with seven points.
LHS 73, BEA 70
The Cardinals wrapped up the regular season on Friday, March 12, with a 73-70 victory over Blue Earth Area.
Rops opened the scoring for the Cardinals to give them the early 2-0 lead.
Cowell then scored the next seven points for the Cardinals as they jumped out to a 9-5 lead.
The two teams played a back-and-forth first half with Blue Earth leading after 18 minutes 42-38.
In the second half, the Cardinals outscored BEA 35-28 to pick up the 73-70 victory.
Rops led the Cardinals with 22 points. Rops also grabbed five rebounds.
Cowell scored 21 points, dished out five assists, and recorded three steals.
Ahrendt scored 19 points, grabbed six rebounds, and recorded three steals.
With their 14-3 record the Cardinals earned the No. 1 seed in the south region of the Section 3AA section tournament. They’ll either play Windom or Tracy-Milroy-Balaton at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 20, in Luverne.
The Cardinals won both of their matchups against Windom this past season. Luverne beat the Eagles 86-65 in Windom and then beat them 72-63 in Luverne.
Luverne did not play TMB in the regular season. The Panthers finished the regular season with a 10-8 record.
LHS 29 29 58
PAS 22 33 55
Scoring: Ahrendt 24; Cowell 21; Rops 7
Rebounds: Ahrendt 6
Assists: Cowell 6; Beyer 6
Steals: Ahrendt 3; Cowell 3; Beyer 3
LHS 38 35 73
BEA 42 28 70
Scoring: Rops 22; Cowell 21; Ahrendt 19
Rebounds: Ahrendt 6; Rops 5; Cole-Kraty 5
Assists: Cowell 5; Beyer 5; Cole-Kraty 4
Steals: Ahrendt 3; Kole-Craty 3; Cowell 3