Van Buren, Cardinal, MSAE fall to conference heavyweights

Danville 69, Cardinal 37

DANVILLE ? The Cardinal boys? basketball team opened its season Tuesday night, and an early-season schedule that figured to be a bumpy road, is looking like exactly that.

The Comets (0-1, 0-1 SEISC north) fell on the road against last year?s conference champ Danville (1-0, 1-0) 69-37.

Cardinal trailed by 14 points at halftime, but 11 third-quarter turnovers spelled doom and Danville ran away. The Comets committed 24 turnovers in all in the game and shot just 24 percent (10-41) from the field.

?We could?ve played better,? said Cardinal head coach Kenny Hamm. ?It would?ve been tough for us to come all the way back and get a win, but it could?ve gone a little better.?

Trevor Kayser scored eight points and had 11 rebounds while Marcus Giltner scored 10. Brandon Warren and AJ Rachford each netted seven. Josh Kent and Drew Ostrander made their presence felt with three and two points, respectively.

The Comets will be back in action Friday night on the road again at Holy Trinity.

Notre Dame 74, Van Buren 54

KEOSAUQUA ? Van Buren?s Collin Weaver scored 29 points, but Burlington-Notre Dame put four in double figures to get past Van Buren 74-54 in the season-opener for both teams Tuesday night.

Chris Kottenstette and Jon Lowell each netted 16 for the Nike?s (1-0, 1-0 SEISC south), last year?s runner-up in the final SEISC south division standings, and sent Van Buren to the loss.

The road doesn?t get any easier for the Warriors (0-1, 0-1) as they are now set to host Danville Friday night.

Holy Trinity 61, MSAE 27

Maharishi School fell behind 12-0 early and never climbed back as it dropped the season opener at home vs. Holy Trinity 61-27 Tuesday night.

The Cruader?s took a 33-14 lead into halftime and held MSAE to just two points in the third quarter to extend the lead.

Sky Nite led the Pioneers with nine points, Derek Thatcher scored eight and Atrey Dey pulled in a team-high seven rebounds.

The Pioneers will next play Friday at home vs. New London inside the MSAE Fieldhouse.