Reuniting with friends

In the olden days before the three-division split, namely just last year, the Carrington and Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier girls could be counted on to provide some of the most entertaining and spirited games in the District 5 season.

The stakes are much lower now, as this year's tussle of the Cards/Rebels was merely a non-conference game between Division A and B schools and not the grudge match of past campaigns.

Both teams proved that the competitive juices still flow in Edgeley Saturday, January 20, with CHS taking a 55-50 win over the eighth-ranked Class B team.

"We didn't shoot the ball well from the field overall, but we hit clutch buckets in the fourth quarter and free throws in the earlier quarters to help the cause," Carrington Coach Andy Braaten said.

The teams entered the final eight minutes knotted up at 38-38, but the Cards turned to their biggest weapon of the season so far in the three-pointer.

In the fourth, Madison Johnson, scoreless from the floor in the game up to that point, hit two treys. Kacie Rexin finished with a team-high 19 points, including a three which helped seal the win, and Edyn Hoornaert also connected from the arc in the quarter.

Braaten noted another key play down the stretch was a well-executed sequence starting with an Isabel Wendel steal, followed by a pass to Hoornaert and the junior forward finding Olivia Threadgold for a backdoor cut and two points.

"The girls also played solid on the defensive end," said Braaten.

Six-foot-even E-K-M standout Mataeya Mathern, always the matchup problem for Class B teams, had her customary strong performance for the Rebels with 22 points, including eight of the home squad's first quarter output of 10.

Aside from a third-quarter spurt keyed by Abby Mathern's nine points, the Cards largely neutralized the rest of the Rebel lineup in the win.

Johnson and Threadgold had 11 points each, with Johnson putting together a well-rounded floor game with five rebounds, five steals and four assists. Hoornaert was the top rebounder, snagging eight boards.

Once again, the foul line played a key in the outcome. The Cards shot 13-of-16 in the game, while E-K-M struggled with a sub-50% effort at 6-of-14.

Carrington moved to 11-3 with the win, while E-K-M's record dipped to 11-4. Three of the Rebs' losses came to Class B-ranked teams.

Inter-Division Girls Basketball

Carrington 55,

Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier 50

at Edgeley

Cgtn. 16 9 13 17 55

E-K-M 10 11 17 12 50

Carrington: Kacie Rexin 19, Madison Johnson 11, Olivia Threadgold 11, Edyn Hoornaert 5, Kaydence VanRay 5, Kenadie Pazdernik 2, Isabel Wendel 2. Totals: 18 FG, 13-16 FT, 11 fouls. Three-pointers: Rexin 2, Johnson 2, Threadgold, Hoornaert.

E-K-M: Mataeya Mathern 22, Abby Mathern 11, Jaelyn Bertsch 5, Betsy Auber 4, Grace Irey 4, Olivia Brummund 2, Lexie Dallman 2. Totals: 21 FG, 6-14 FT, 14 fouls. Three-pointers: M. Mathern, A. Mathern.

Carrington Additional Stats

Rebounds: Hoornaert 8, Johnson 5, Rexin and VanRay 3, Threadgold and Wendel 2.

Assists: Johnson 4, Hoornaert, Rexin, Threadgold and Wendel 2.

Steals: Johnson 5, Rexin 4, VanRay and Wendel 1.