Luke Timas scored a game-high 24 points to lead Cardinal to its first win at rival Berkshire since 2013 and its first win in the rivalry game since 2014.
The win was the fourth straight for the Huskies this season after starting out the year 0-4.
“It feels great to beat Berkshire, and more importantly, win four in a row,” Timas said. “Both our schools get up for this game and it was very satisfying to win with our senior-heavy team.”
Cardinal defeated visiting Berkshire, 60-59, on Jan. 31, 2014 and the Huskies beat the Badgers on their home floor in 2013, 43-40.
The 1-8 Badgers hung tough and rallied back from several double-digit leads.
Cardinal was hurt when Robbie Mulh found himself in early foul trouble. Mulh, who entered the game averaging a team-high 12.9 points per contest, played less than half the game.
“He played probably about 15 minutes maximum,” said Cardinal coach Jon Cummins. “I didn’t play him all of the second quarter and then he got two fouls in a row in the third quarter, so he probably played about four minutes in the third quarter. He started in the fourth and played about three minutes. That was the difference.”
Despite Mulh’s absence, the Huskies built a 29-16 halftime lead.
The Badgers outscored the Huskies, 38-33, in the second half.
“That’s one of the games you look at the schedule and you know they’re always tough when you play against Berkshire,” Cummins said. “It’s a rivalry game so everyone is a little higher and you sometimes play outside yourself. We did OK. We came out in the first quarter and played OK. The second quarter was fine too and we were up 14 with about five minutes to go in the game.”
Cummins put the ball in Timas’ hands in the second half.
He responded with 11 fourth quarter points.
“My mindset was to take what the defense was giving me,” Timas said. “They were pressuring me more in the fourth, so it gave me more opportunities to attack the rim and to try and make plays.”
Matt Carney contributed to the win with 14 points while Hayden Cummins finished with six and Mulh, Robbie Bruncak and Brice Hogue pitched in with five each.
With four straight wins, the Huskies are back to .500 but have a tough road ahead of them.
Cardinal hosts Kirtland on Wednesday then travels to first place Richmond Heights on Friday.
“Finding a way to win, no matter who we’re playing against, it doesn’t really matter, we’ve got to come out and play and get back in the winning column,” Coach Cummins said. “We were able to do that in the last four games. That’s something to build on because we have a really tough game on Wednesday against Kirtland then we go over to Richmond Heights on Friday. These next two games don’t get any easier.”
Cardinal 62, Berkshire 54
Cardinal (6-3): Bruncak 5, Carney 14, Hogue 5, Mulh 5, Timas 24, Kosh 3, Cummins 6
Berkshire (1-8): Roach 13, Pillot 11, Trushel 8, Kastor 4, Sinkenbring 16, Czekhaj 2
Cardinal 12 17 14 19 — 62
Berkshire 10 6 17 21 — 54
Free throws: Cardinal 11 of 16, Berkshire 18 of 25; 3-pointers: Cardinal 3 (Bruncak 1, Timas 1, Kosh 1), Berkshire 2 (Roach 1, Trushel 1)
