CAMDEN — By PATRIC FLANNIGAN
Sports editor
Camden Fairview and El Dorado played two entertaining varisty games on Thursday night at Wildcat area. The Lady Cardinals were victorious 70-54 while the Cardinals loss 67-63.
Over the years, the rivalry games between Camden Fairview and El Dorado have developed a reputation for fans to always expect the unexpected. Ironically, the unexpected occured before the opening tip-off of the varsity girls game. After the scoreboard personel was unable to cue up the National Anthem, El Dorado Lady Wildcat Zaria Brown was called into action to perform an impromptu but beutiful rendition of the song.
After a well-deserved ovation, the game started.
El Dorado looked like it was going to start the second quarter with a lead but CF’s Madison Thurman came up with a steal and found Nicole Sanders in the open court. Sanders executed a deceiving euro step to blow by a defender for a layup. Then on the Lady Cardinals’ next trip on offense, Takari Glove would draw defenders and find Jhiya Jefferson under the basket for a score just before the buzzer to give CF the 16-15 lead.
CF would begin the second quarter methodically distancing itself from the Lady Wildcats. After the Wildcats came to within 25-21 of the visiting team, CF would go on a run sparked by a Glover three-pointer and a Tamia Dandridge floater off the glass that drew a foul. Dandridge would finish the and-1 opportunity by hitting a free throw to grow the lead to 10.
The Lady Cardinals would open the third quarter with a 9-0 run behind four quick points from Raven Porchia but the first half fouls would catch up with the visiting team. By the four minute mark of the third, three of the Lady Cardinals starters were on the bench with four fouls. Nevertheless, Thurman, Sanders, Zaiyia Brown and Khylah Hughey would play well off the bench and CF would go up by as many as 14 before taking a 50-41 lead into the fourth quarter.
Dandridge would foul out at the five minute mark and Jefferson at the 2:19 mark but the damage was already done in the Lady Cardinals’ favor. Bre Harris, Glover and Porchia were the main ball handlers and each added big assists late in the game. CF would beat the Lady Wildcats full court press three consecutive times for six quick points. CF was also disciplined when milking the clock, holding the ball and only attacking when the El Dorado defense offered the lane. Glover would add a three-point play with a 1:18 left that helped seal the game.
Jefferson finished with a double-double – 25 points and 12 rebounds – followed by Glover and Dandridge with 12 points. Sanders added 10 and Porchia tallied seven rebounds and six points. The Lady Cardinals combined for 14 steals on the night.
The action from the varsity boys game was hectic to start with both sides competitively chirping at each other while making athletic plays on the court. The Cardinals would take the early advantage after threes from Ryan Utsey, Christian Strahan and Isaiah Hughes. CF would force an early El Dorado timeout after going ahead, 11-6. The quarter would end with CF in front 23-18 after both teams hit three pointers on their last possessions.
In the second quarter, CF was able to speed up the temp even more and pick apart the El Dorado defense in transition. CF would go up 41-27 after Erik Hall came up with a steal and found Dashaire Ford Burton for the easy deuce. The Cardinals would end the half by keying in on defense and preventing the Wildcats from even getting a final shot off.
Similar to the varsity girls game, the fouls would start to impact the Cardinals rotation early in the third. Corey Lockhart had to sit and the Wildcats were able to attack the inside as the Cardinals turned the ball over on the offensive end. Things would go from concerning to bad when CF was hit with a technical foul after a regular foul in transition defense. After the game, an official said the technical was the result of foul language. El Dorado would hit four free throws and get the ball back. CF was able to thwart the offensive possession but would only lead 47-45 to start the fourth quarter.
CF went on a brief run in the fourth after Strahan went 1/2 from the line and Ford-Burton hit a quick three as the Wildcats sat in a zone defense. However, El Dorado would tie the game at 52 with five minutes left. CF responded when Ford Burton hit Hall in the corner for a critical three pointer. El Dorado would continue to claw on the offensive end as CF would have trouble getting a whistle after three consecutive drives to the basket drew contact. El Dorado would make the most of it and pick up a loose ball and take its first lead since the first quarter on a put back. Hall would tie the game at 58 after going 1/2 from the free throw line but El Dorado’s Brendan Simmons would hit a step-back three to put the home team ahead 61-58 with 1:17 remaining in the game.
CF would get to within 63-61 with 42 seconds left after Ford Burton hit two free throws but El Dorado was able to add a couple of quick buckets at the rim to earn the win.
Strahan would lead all scorers with 24 points and nine rebounds followed by Ford Burton with 21 points. Hughes and Utsey combined for 11 points.
CF will travel to play Texarkana on Tuesday before meeting the Wildcats again at home on Friday.