EDINBORO, PA–The Charlottesville Cardinals wheelchair basketball team again went 2-1 in Sunday’s elimination rounds of the “Boro Shoot-out” tournament, eventually falling 71-61 to the New York Rollin’ Knicks in the championship game.
After losing to the Knicks in the opening game of the tournament on Saturday, the Cardinals ran off four straight wins before the rematch with the Knicks in the final game.
In Sunday’s quarter-final match, Charlottesville faced the Brooklyn Nets and overpowered the scrappy Nets squad 60-21. Mike Looney led all scorers with 14, followed by Derry Hill with 10, Brandon Rush with 9, Eddie Wimbish with 8, Tom Vandever with 7, India Sims with 4, and Jeremy Smith with 2.
In the semi-final round the Cardinals faced the host University of Pennsylvania-Edinboro men’s team. The Cardinals had downed the Edinboro team the day before 67-46 in a very tough game. But on Sunday the Charlottesville squad exploded from the opening tip and surged to a 33-10 halftime advantage. The Cardinals kept up the pressure throughout the second half and notched a solid 60-22 victory. Mike Looney again led all scorers with 25 points. Tom Vandever added 10, Brandon Rush had 8, Derry Hill and Jeremy Smith had 6 apiece, and Eddie Wimbish chipped in 5.
The Cardinals’ momentum carried throughout the first half of the championship match against the Knicks. Sparked by Eddie Wimbish’s 10 first half points the Cardinals seized a 38-34 lead at the break. But Charlottesville went cold early in the second half, missing a number of open layups and short shots, allowing the Knicks to build a 12-point lead with just under three minutes to play. A furious Cardinals’ rally cut the margin to six with a minute left but the Knicks knocked down their free throws to secure the win, 71-61. Mike Looney led Cardinals’ scorers with 19, followed by Brandon Rush with 15, Eddie Wimbish with 13, Jeremy Smith with 6, and Cort Thomas and Tom Vandever with 4 each.
The Cardinals are now 2-4 in Championship Division play and 5-6 overall. Charlottesville will take the floor again the weekend of December 6-8 as they host the Herman Key, Jr. Memorial Holiday Tournament in Charlottesville. The tournament will feature seven other teams in addition to the Cardinals: New York Rollin’ Knicks, Shepherd Stealers, Keystone State Royals, NRH Ambassadors, Magee Sixers, Richmond Rimriders, and Air Capital.