ORLANDO–The 15th-ranked Charlottesville Cardinals dropped two games in succession in Saturday’s games this weekend to the #12 Atlanta Shepherd Stealers and the #6 Austin Rec-ers before notching a win against the #13 Chicago RIC Hornets. The Hornets gained a measure of revenge on Sunday by knocking off the Cardinals to leave Charlottesville with a 1-3 record for the tournament.
In the opening game of the tournament the 12th-ranked Shepherd squad vaulted to a 33-20 first half lead and never looked back as they handed a 70-46 defeat to the Cardinals. Mike Looney led Cardinals’ scorers with 19 points while Andrea Woodson-Smith added 11.
“Shepherd has owned us this season,” said player-coach Tom Vandever. “They’re now officially my recurring nightmare.”
The match against #6 Austin offered no respite for the Cardinals as once again their opponents built a comfortable lead in the first half and coasted in the second half to 69-34 victory over the Cardinals. Mike Looney had 16 points for Charlottesville but no other Cardinal was in double figures.
After regrouping the Cardinals played a strong game against the 13th-ranked Chicago RIC Hornets and turned a 25-all halftime tie into a solid 59-51 victory. Mike Looney again led Cardinals’ scorers with 25 points and Brandon Rush chipped in 10.
The rematch against the Hornets on Sunday morning did not go as well for the Cardinals. Four of the five Charlottesville starters left the game in the first half for various medical reasons and the Cardinals never found any rhythm as they fell behind 25-18 at the half. Both teams had trouble finding the basket in the second half but the Hornets still managed to outscore Charlottesville in the second period, 17-11, to claim a 42-29 win. No Cardinals were in double figures.
The Cardinals travel to Philadelphia this weekend to compete in the annual Carousel House tournament.