CARDINAL SPORTS with Karen Huwe

Boys' Basketball

HIgh School Boys' Basketball

WAITSBURG - It was a tough week for the Cardinal boys' basketball team, playing four games in six days. The team played without two key players, Logan Seal and JJ Gleason, who are out this season due to injuries. Paco Kenney missed games due to illness, and Alex Zuniga was injured.

On Monday, January 5, the Cardinals traveled to Moses Lake and lost 75-33.  Blake Benevides scored 13 points, Liam Kiefel had eight, Camdyn Vories scored six, Landen Henry had three points, and Rollin Carpenter scored two.

The JV team stopped Moses Lake from getting second chances and won 22-11 in two quarters of basketball. Jake Lynch led the way with 10 points.

Touchet beat the Cardinals 75-33 on Wednesday, January 7. Playing without four starters, Coach Wallace turned to his bench and put junior varsity players in.  Carter Barron, Jake Lynch, and Liam Kiefel stepped up. Landen Henry and Victor Whitmore rebounded well for the Cardinals. Benevides led the team with 22 points. 

The JV team lost to Touchet, 17 to 9, in two quarters. They played hard to the end but were hurt by missing 11 of 14 free throws.

Waitsburg lost to Dayton, 76 to39, on Friday, January 9. Waitsburg led going into the second quarter, before Benevides got into foul trouble and Dayton continued their press on the younger players. Benevides scored 10 points, and Carpenter scored eight and rebounded six.

The Waitsburg JV basketball team played four quarters against Dayton.  The Cardinals played more physically and more disciplined than they have all year, said Coach Wallace.  Bryer Paul led the team with 12 points, Vories had 11, Carsyn Pennington scored 10, Lynch and Whitmore had six each, and Carpenter and Gavin Mikesell scored two each in the 49-19 win.

On Saturday, January 10, the team traveled to Pomeroy and the varsity lost 65-25.

"A bad game for us. We can make excuses, and they are legitimate for high school kids. We already had three tough games this week, and we have injuries. We got in the trenches and gave everything in our last few games, so of course we are tired and hurting," said Wallace. "I think if we can finish the season with six games of full effort, adjusting, and heads held high, there is a lot we can accomplish that the program will see in the future," he added.

Junior varsity team lost at Pomeroy 60-24.  

"It has been a long week, and some of these kids have been having to play varsity minutes as well as JV. So as a program, we are going to take a breath, have some fun this week, and get after it strong to end the season," said Wallace.

Waitsburg will host Garfield-Palouse on Friday, January 16, and then travel to Colton on Saturday, January 17.  Check the school website for start times.

Cardinal Girls' Basketball

High School Girls' Basketball

Karen Huwe

Addison Crenshaw looks to steal a Touchet pass.

The Cardinal girls' high school basketball team had a demanding four-game schedule following winter break.  The team had to play around players who were out due to illness.

"The girls have all been recovering from being sick. They are playing positions they are not used to, but they are trying their best and working hard. Next weekend, everyone should be healthy and back in shape, ready for the games, said Coach Kira Waggonner.

Against Dayton on Friday, January 9, the Cardinals lost 66-16. Cheri Mathews scored 11 points, and Olivia Kiefel had three.  Kaitlynn Paul, Audrey Kiefel, and Joslin Nodine scored two points each.

The girls traveled to Pomeroy on Saturday, January 10, and lost to the Pirates 63-25.  Audrey Kiefel led the team with eight points.  Mathews had five, and Olivia Kiefel and Nodine scored four each.  Paul and Lilian Carpenter scored two points each.

The Lady Cardinals will next play Garfield-Palouse on Friday, January 16, in Waitsburg.

Middle School Girls' Basketball

The Waitsburg Middle School girls' basketball team began practice on January 5.  Coach Karen Huwe said they are looking forward to their first game on January 26 against DeSales.

High School Wrestling

Hankins Wins Crusader Classic

Waitsburg Cardinal Jarod Hankins wrestled to a first-place finish at the Northwest Christian Crusader Classic on Saturday, January 10. Hankins won his first and second matches in the second round by pin.  In the finals, Hakins went three rounds with his opponent and won by a 10-9 decision.  

Karen Huwe

(l-r):  Ryleigh Fabian, Laila Long, Shylo Hedges, Peyton Childers, Ava McCaw, Adalin Acevedo, Jaylynn Gleason, Oaklee Adams, Ayra Hillman, Reagan Fabian front row:   Dori Adkins, Emma Langford, Olivia Long

Graycen Teal lost his first match by pin and then won his next two matches by pin. He finished the day losing his match by a 14-11 score. 

 Flynn Richardson went 0-2 on the day. He lost the first match by pin in the first round. Richardson wrestled hard in his second match, taking his opponent to the third round, but lost by pin.

 Dylan Gutierrez won two and lost two. He won his first match by points, 24-8, and lost his second to a first-round pin. Gutierrez won his third match by pin in the third round while also scoring 16 points. He lost his fourth match by pin in the first round.

 On Saturday, January 17, the Cardinal wrestlers will travel to College Place High School.