Cards headed to state with 1st-round blowout
MONTICELLO – For the first time in nearly a decade, the Harmony Grove Cardinals are headed back to the 3A State Tournament in basketball. Harmony Grove is guaranteed a spot in the big dance despite how the rest of its regional tournament plays out.
The Cardinals made a statement Thursday at Drew Central High School, taking down Mcgehee 54-30 in the first round of the 3A-4 Regional.
“We played extremely well across the board,” said Head Coach Andy Brakebill. “It was the first time in a while that it came together for everyone. We also shot the ball really well.”
The Cardinals entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed after falling to Jessieville last week in the finals of the 7-3A District Tournament.
Jessieville fell hard in its regional opener, slipping to Lakeside (Lake Village) 70-46.
The Cardinals started hot in the first half with 13 in the opening frame and 24 in the second quarter.
Blake Ammons was a crucial part of the success with 15 of his team-leading 17 coming in the first half.
Ammons would also go 6 for 6 from the foul line in the second quarter.
Harmony Grove led 37-6 at the half.
Already with a big lead, the Cardinals tapered off a bit in the second half to preserve energy for Friday, adding six in the third and 11 more in the fourth.
The Owls would tack on 12 in the third for their best quarter of the night before adding 11 in the fourth.
Walter Browning shot well for the Cardinals, hitting four 3-pointers on the night to finish with 12 points. Tyler Mccormick followed with nine of his own.
The Cardinals played Friday in the second round, taking on 1 seed Dumas (25-7), one of the state’s best 3A squads. The winner of Friday’s semifinal will take on the winner of Lakeside and Drew Central tonight at 7:30 at Drew Central, with the loser playing the thirdplace game at 1:30 p.m.