With a 46-42 win over Lowellville in a Division VII district semifinal on Tuesday, Cardinal’s girls’ basketball team is headed to the district championship game for the first time in nearly 30 years.
The last time the Huskies played for a district title was in 2002.
“From not having a program two years ago to having 10 girls last year to 14 girls this year, and continuing to grow, that’s all I hoped and dreamed for,” Domen said. “These sophomores are paving the way, and I don’t want to discredit the two juniors, but obviously, I have more sophomores than I do juniors, and they’re just leaders, and they’re paving the way for everybody else. They’re going to be the role models, and they already are.”
The Huskies played from behind for most of the first half.
Lowellville led 9-8 after one and 20-14 at the break.
Cardinal made its move in the third quarter, outscoring the Rockets 12-6.
Emily Pleva drained a 3-pointer on the way to a five-point frame; Ivy Kaminsky hit two field goals and added a free throw, and Adelyn Grant added a bucket, sending the game into the fourth quarter tied 26-26.
The Huskies owned the fourth.
Kaminski scored seven points, Young added six, Grant scored four, and Pleva drained another key three to help the Huskies clinch their biggest win in three decades.
“They have a lot of experience underneath them,” Domen said of her squad’s execution in the fourth. “They still have some room to grow, obviously, but to just have these close games like this and go this far in tournaments is awesome for them. I’m just so proud of them. I don’t want to discredit this year, but look out in the next two years, because they are going to be something.”
Kaminski led all scorers with 18 points and Young also finished in double figures with 13. Pleva and Grant scored eight points each.
“It’s very exhilarating.,” Domen said of the win. “You have the nerves right during the game, but it is exhilarating, and I am above and beyond proud of the girls that played. Grit, they have a lot of grit, a lot of heart, and, I’m just proud of them.”
The seventh-seeded Huskies advanced to Saturday’s district championship game against No. 1 seed Warren JFK. Tip-off at Mineral Ridge High School is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story originally indicated Cardinal hadn’t played in the district championship game since 1995. It was later determined the Huskies played in the 2002 district championship game.
