Trying to adjust to game speed playing your first game against an opponent playing their seventh would seem like an uphill task.  And for the first half of the game with the Ft Smith Southside Mavericks, the Cardinals lack of game action was apparent.  The game plan was working, but shots would not fall.  Even though Cardinals jumped out to 9-6 first quarter lead, Webb City left many open looks just off the rim.  Southside pulled ahead by 10 points as the half was coming to a close but a long range three from Slade Hurd trimmed the deficit to 23-16 at the break.

Turning up the defensive pressure out of the locker room, a 7-0 run fueled by Holton Keith tied the game in the first moments of the third quarter.  Southside responded with a 16-5 run of their own to put the Cardinals down double digits heading into the final quarter.  Still trailing by six with only five minutes left, a Keith field goal, another three from Hurd and field goal from Eli Pace, put the Cardinals back in front over the next 90 seconds.  The Mavericks took their last lead just inside the three minute mark, but a three point shot from Trae Turner gave the Cardinals the lead they would not relinquish.  The Mavericks, then forced to foul, sent Eli Pace to foul line, where the senior knocked down three of four.  A final three from Turner put the finishing touches on the opening round win.

Coach Horn remarked "This isn't going to define our season, this is one win.  Doesn't mean alot in the grand scheme of things, just a chance for us to see what we have to improve on."

Holton Keith, the beneficiary of several easy lay ups on the front of the press, led the team with 19 points.  Trae Turner finished with 15, including a couple of high flying dunks.  Slade Hurd added nine points in his varsity start, all from long range.  Eli Pace had final stat line of seven points, eight rebounds and six assists.  

After turning the ball over nine times in the first half, the Cardinals only had two miscues in the second half. Defensively they forced the Mavericks into 28 turnovers on the night.]

The Cardinals return tomorrow to take on Ray Pec in a semi final battle.  Game time is set for 5:30