On Friday morning, the #5 seed in Class D1 Alma Cardinals played against the #1 seed Pender in the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Pender has won back-to-back State Championships; in 2023 in Class C2 and in 2024 Class D1.
We chatted with Amanda Davis, Head Coach of the Cardinals before the game.
The Cardinals competed hard until the end, but fell in the game, 53-40.
In the first period, the offense was really hard to come by for both teams. Alma was getting excellent looks as the Cardinals as a whole were moving the ball well and taking good shots. Sometimes though, they just don't go in.
After the first quarter, Pender led 8-4. The offenses continued to sputter in the second quarter, and Pender led at the half, 21-9.
At the half, Alma was 4-28 from the field, but like we said, the shots the Cards were taking were good looks.
Check out the highlights from the game brought to you by Prairie Girl Candle Company!
In the third quarter, it looked like Pender was going to run away and hide.
Pender hit a couple of threes and went on an 8-0 run to start the second half. Later in the third period, Pender went on another run and led 42-16. Alma, though, bounced back nicely, got their offense going, and went on a 6-0 run at the end of the period.
Alma trailed 42-22 going to the final quarter.
The Cardinals continued to battle and play hard, outscoring Pender 18-11 in the fourth. Alma's defensive intensity and effort were solid.
For Pender, Hadley Walsh had 23 points and six rebounds, Madalyn Dolliver had 11 points. Pender shot 38.5 % from the field. Pender was 6-29 from three-point range. They were 7-11 from the free throw line. Pender had 33 rebounds in the game too.
For Alma, Kamryn Scott had 13 points, Tierston Moore had eight points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and four steals, Kamri Neal scored six, Chayse Molzahn had six, Vayden Epp finished with seven points and seven rebounds, and Miley Whitney had two.
As a team, Alma shot 32.7% from the field, 1-7 from three, 7-9 from the free throw line, and had 37 rebounds.
Our Player of the Game, brought to you by Farmers National Company - Lori Harding Real Estate Sales went to Kamryn Scott of Alma.
#1 Pender moves to the championship game, which will be played at Pinnacle Bank Arena at 9:00 A.M. against #2 seed Elm Creek.