The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - De­spite size disadvantages, the Waitsburg-Prescott lady Cardinals kept a win away from the McLoughlin Pio­neers like an uneven game of keep away, securing a 44-26 victory Tuesday night.

The game opened slowly, with the Pioneers taking the jump ball but missing their shots. The Cardinals played aggressively, stealing and rebounding at every op­portunity and blocking the Pioneers from the basket.

Early in the game, fouls slowed the Pioneers down, putting Cardinals on the line and jarring the game's mo­mentum. The Pioneers' first points were finally posted with 3:34 left in the first period and the Cardinals already up, 6-2.

The Pioneers fumbled to make points, but couldn't put many on the board, ending the first period with a score of 12-3, Cardinals.

Senior Krystal Harris opened the second period with a quick steal, going post to post for two points. Less than four minutes in, the Pioneers were watching the damage their fouls could do as the gap in scores widened and the Cardinals pulled far­ther ahead.

The Cardinals would not budge as the Pioneers pushed through, taking shots that didn't connect and let­ting rebounds slip through their fingers. The half ended with a score of 23-9, Car­dinals.

Neither team put up many points after returning from half time. The Cardinals put two on the board in the first three minutes but neither team was able to do much damage until later in the period.

The Cardinals put five more points on the board and the Pioneers were only able to post two with 3:48 left in the period. With 2:17 re­maining, both teams scored three more points before convening on the sidelines for a time out.

The Cardinals returned to the court and put up three more before the third ended with a score of 36-14, Car­dinals.

The Pioneers weren't ready to roll over, opening the fourth period hitting two points in the first 30 seconds. The Cardinals hit back, seconds later, and prepared to stretch their lead and end the game.

The Pioneers were able to put up 10 more points to the Cardinals' eight, but it wasn't enough to close the gap, ending the game with a final score of 44-26, Cardinals.

Head coach Jerry Baker said he and the team were happy that everyone got to play in the win.

"We came out wanting to play," Baker said. "All four senior girls got to play and score."

The Cardinals are tied for third going into two big weekend games against De- Sales on Friday and Wal- la Walla Valley Academy on Saturday. Their playoff chances hang in the balance and Baker said the team is ready to put the pressure on and work hard to prepare for the weekend games.