DREAM TEAM ENDS RUN

By GRC Journalism staff

The outcome was disappointing, but the venue was most appropriate.

Where more fitting for the Cardinal Dream Team to end its season than the Rupp Arena floor? After the Cards fell to No. 1 Louisville Eastern 65-50 Friday in the state tournament Elite Eight, Coach Scott Humphrey reflected on a team that will be remembered in Clark County for years to come.

"I've never had a group have the expectations that have been placed on these guys from the beginning and that's hard on 16-, 17- and 18-year-olds," Humphrey said. "They definitely rose to the occasion and had an outstanding year. If there's a group that deserved to end on the Rupp Arena floor, it's this bunch."

Moving to the final four wasn't to be for the No. 2 Cards, who struggled from the start. Clark made 3 of 21 shots for only 14.3 percent from the field in the first half and trailed 19-4 after eight minutes.

Eastern "played a tremendous game," Humphrey said. "They were very physical with us especially on the perimeter and I feel that was the difference in the game early."

The Cards struggled with second chance points, managing only 13 offensive rebounds to Eastern's 22 defensive rebounds. "We could've battled through the poor shooting but when you give up so many second chance points, you get in a hole and can't get out," he said.

Corey Rogers was named to the All-Tournament Team after leading all scorers with 19 points, bringing his total points in the tournament to 45. "They were really in us," Rogers said. "We have length and they have athletic length. They play hungry."

Senior Travis Purvis, who had five points and five rebounds, called Eastern "one of the most athletic teams we've played. It was like we were playing 10 guys," Purvis said.

The Cards never led in the game and Eastern's largest lead was 21 points with two minutes left in the third quarter.

The Cards say goodbye to nine seniors, including a core group that has made an indelible mark on the rich Clark County basketball tradition.

Clark finished the season at 30-6, won the Scott County Toyota Classic, and finished 2-2 in the prestigious Beach Ball Classic. In 2011, the Cards won 21 games and lost only two, to Ballard 71-57, on Feb. 9, and to Eastern Friday.

View season box scores on Cardinal basketball page.

ALL PHOTOS IN GALLERIES BY

GRC JOURNALISM STAFF 

CARDS ADVANCE
TO ELITE EIGHT

By GRC Journalism Staff

It was a birthday Corey Rogers won't forget. Rogers celebrated his 18th in style with 26 points on 11-15 from the field and 4-4 from the line as the Cards easily handled Oldham County
56-39 in the first round of the state tournament Wednesday (3-16) at Rupp Arena.

The Cards will play Eastern, ranked No. 1 in the state, at noon Friday, in the
Elite Eight. Eastern edged Warren Central, 54-51.

"It's my last go-round with these guys and we will have no regrets," Rogers said. "There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle. Whatever your piece is, you have to take it. That's what we do. We're very unselfish."

For this special group of seniors, a trip to Rupp has been a long time coming. "It's been three very upsetting years for us, and we're happy to be back," said senior Robbie Stenzel, who had seven points, including the first basket of the 2011 state tournament 17 seconds in. Mason County advanced to the Sweet 16 the last three years. Stenzel was an 8th grader on the Cards' 2007 Elite Eight team.

In their 30th win of the season, the Cards hit 48.9 percent from the field, had seven blocked shots and five steals, and forced 13 turnovers.

"This is the pinnacle of all our hard work and all the long hours we put into it," said Vinny Zollo, who had 10 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. "It feels so great to go out here with these guys and be able to get the win."

As for the next step, Rogers said the Cards are ready. "We are accustomed to playing great teams back to back," Rogers said. "We have done it all year and we are as prepared as we can be."

 ALL PHOTOS IN GALLERIES BY

GRC JOURNALISM STAFF 

 Senior Corey Rogers acknowledges the student section's rendering of "Happy Birthday" at the end of the Cards' 56-39 win over Oldham County in the first round of the Sweet 16. Corey celebrated his 18th birthday by scoring 26 points in the Cards' victory.

(GRC Online photo)