HILLSBORO (NewsDakota)- Hall of Fame Cardinal Head Coach Andy Braaten is often quick to point out that in this sport, you never really know what could be next, and because of that, his program is centered on being present in the now and not looking ahead.  Monday night was the perfect reminder of just how true his words are.

Playing without leading scorer Marah Johnson, the Cardinals struggled offensively and fell to the Hillsboro/Central Valley Burros 42-39 at the Hillsboro Events Center on Monday night.

Johnson missed the game through illness, and Kodi Thiel started in her place and immediately knocked down a three in the early stages as the Cardinals (2-3, 1-1 Region 2A) took an 11-7 lead at the end of the first.  The second quarter was a rock fight, with each team only connecting on three field goals as Carrington took a 19-15 lead into the break.

But in the second half the Burros (2-5, 1-1 Region 2A) lifted, led by freshman Rayna Betner, who scored nine of her game-high 17 points after the break.  An 11-3 start to the fourth quarter gave H/CV their largest lead at 34-29 and while Aniston Hoornaert (11 points) and Sienna Topp (10 points) tried to rally Carrington, Paige Cotton hit a clutch three and got a steal and layup to lift the Burros to victory.

Carrington are next in action on Monday, hosting Hazen in the Carrington Holiday Shootout with coverage on KDAK The Cardinal & KDAK The Cardinal on YouTube beginning at around 3:45pm.

CHS           11            8            7            13                    39

HCV            7            8            8            19                    42

CARRINGTON (2-3, 1-1 Region 2A): Aniston Hoornaert 11; Sienna Topp 10; Kodi Thiel 8; Maara Kutz 5; Harper Kollman 3; Sophie Spitzer 2

HILLSBORO/CENTRAL VALLEY (2-5, 1-1 Region 2A): Rayna Betner 17; Paige Cotton 12; Paityn Olson 8; Hadley Abentroth 4; Addison Saure 1

FULL ARCHIVE: