PHILADELPHIA–The Charlottesville Cardinals wheelchair basketball team again knocked off the 14th-ranked New York Rollin’ Knicks in Sunday’s semi-final round of 32nd Carousel House Tournament but lost a heart breaker to the 7th-ranked Bay City Thunder in the afternoon championship game, taking second place in the tournament.
The Cardinals had defeated New York in Saturday’s round-robin play, 68-60, and the semi-final match was equally competitive. The two teams traded the lead repeatedly throughout the first half before Charlottesville took a 28-27 edge into the break. The Cardinals scored quickly in the opening minute of the second half and never relinquished the lead, stretching their margin to ten points with eight minutes to play. The Knicks closed to within four points with three minutes left but the Cardinals regrouped and claimed a 61-55 victory.
The Cardinals’ Brandon Rush led all scorers with 21 points and Mike Looney added 19. The win put Charlottesville into a rematch with the Bay City squad for the tournament championship.
The Cardinals’ offense sputtered in the first half against Bay City and at halftime the squad found themselves down 31-23. The Thunder stretched the lead to 12 points, 37-25 with 17 minutes to play before Charlottesville mounted a rally to tie the score at 46-all with four minutes remaining in the contest. Bay City took a three point lead with 17 seconds to play and the Thunder’s Charles McDonald drilled two free throws for ensure the 57-52 victory.
Brandon Rush again led Cardinals’ scorers with 18 points while Mike Looney and Tom Vandever had 14 each. Bay City’s McDonald led all scorers with 26 points.
Mike Looney was awarded the “Top Scorer” award for the tournament (113 points in five games for 22.6/ppg).
The 15th-ranked Cardinals are now 21-14 on the season.