Basketball: Boys come up short to Cards

• Jordan Delao (23) pressures Chippewa Falls’ Zandy Stowell

Hudson senior guard Jordan Delao (23) pressures Chippewa Falls’ Zandy Stowell in the backcourt in the second half of the Raiders’ 58-50 loss to the Cardinals last Friday night at the high school. Photo by Bob Burrows

Talk about it

Every time the Raider boys’ basketball team appeared on the verge of catching Chippewa Falls Friday night (Jan. 20), it would come up short.

Whether it was a turnover, missed shot or one of eight Cardinal three-pointers, the Raiders were forced to play from behind all night in a 58-50 Big Rivers Conference loss.

“I thought we had our chances early in that game to get up on them, however we would turn them over and then miss on our end, or turn it over ourselves,” Raider coach Jason Swavely said. “I felt that we were a little lethargic; we did not have the edge that we have had in recent games. That, coupled with the fact that Chippewa shot it well from the perimeter made it tough for us to battle back to get on top.”

The Cardinals, who improved to 4-2 in the BRC, 6-6 overall, led by two, 14-12, at the end of one and widened the gap to 28-21 at the break. The lead was eight, 47-39, when Kellen Pearson opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to bring the Raiders to within five.

Chippewa Falls scored the next five points to widen the gap to 52-42. An Ethan Stanchik steal and layup made it an eight-point game, 54-46, with 1:55 remaining but that’s as close as the Raiders would get.

Stanchik led Hudson with 13 points and Pearson scored 12 while Stef Smith added 10 points off the bench. Alex Herink finished with seven and Max Hawksford scored four while Miles Lewis and Luke Miller finished with two points each.

Each team made 21 field goals but Chippewa Falls knocked down eight three-pointers compared to Hudson’s two. The Cardinals were also 8-of-17 from the free throw line compared to 6-of-9 for the Raiders.

Swavely said the Raiders continued to work hard in the fourth quarter but couldn’t overcome a few mistakes and the Cardinals’ ability to convert down the stretch.

“In talking with Chippewa’s coach (Luke Madsen) after the game, he suggested that was as well Chippewa has played all season,” Swavely said. “When you have a little success against some good teams, teams are going to give you their best game. We need to be ready to achieve that 32 minute effort every night.”

Hudson, now 3-3 in the BRC, 8-4 overall, hosted Edina, Minn., in a nonconference game this past Tuesday, Jan. 24 and will resume BRC play Friday, Jan. 27, at Eau Claire Memorial (1-5, 3-12).

“Every night is a challenge and we need to have solid contributions from a lot of guys to have success,” Swavely said.

Tags: sports, basketball, raiders, prep