[ t o u r n e y t o w n . c o m -- 2004 State Tournament]

Granger -- Castro 0-1 2-3 2, C. Cardenas 3-9 0-0 6, Jon. Golob 3-6 0-0 7, Camarillo 0-0 2-4 2, DeLeon 0-3 0-0 0, R. Cardenas 6-21 1-2 16, Jor. Golob 0-0 0-0 0, Walker 0-0 0-0 0, Haley 2-4 0-0 4, Carpenter 1-3 3-7 5, S. Golob 1-6 1-2 4. Totals 16-53 9-18 46.

Life Christian -- B. Thomas 4-5 6-9 14, Curran 1-2 2-4 4, Long 3-7 5-8 12, Roddy 1-4 3-8 5, Kennedy 0-0 0-2 0, K. Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, T. Nelson 3-4 2-5 9, Rice 0-0 1-2 1, Gates 1-6 0-0 3, Hjelseth 0-0 0-0 0, A. Nelson 3-7 2-4 8, Comerey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-35 21-42 56.

Granger

Life Christian

3-point goals--G 5-17 (R. Cardenas 3-11, S. Golob 1-3, Jon. Golob 1-1, C. Cardenas 0-2), LC 3-6 (Long 1-1, T. Nelson 1-2, Gates 1-3). Rebounds--G 35 (S. Golob 10), LC 29 (Roddy 9, B. Thomas 8). Assists--G 9 (R. Cardenas 4, Jon. Golob 3), LC 12 (Roddy 6). Steals--G 8 (DeLeon 2, S. Golob 2), LC 8 (Long 3). Blocked shots--G 1, LC 3. Fouled out--C. Cardenas, Carpenter, A. Nelson. Total fouls--G 29, LC 17. Technical fouls--None. Turnovers--G 13, LC 14.

Life Christian Ousts Granger, 56-46

By MICHAEL ANDERSON
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Granger’s chance to advance in the Class 1A boys state tournament consolation bracket Thursday effectively ended with 6:06 remaining in its loser-out game with Life Christian.

Trailing the Eagles, 42-31, Granger’s leading scorer and offensive lynchpin, Chris Cardenas, fouled out.

While his teammates gamely battled on, shuttling players in and out and applying defensive pressure until the end, it was obvious to tournament observers that Cardenas’ early departure was a signal that the Spartans would be headed home from the tournament. Shortly thereafter they were, dropping a 56-46 decision in the SunDome.

The loss ends Granger’s season in disappointment at 19-7. After a 9-1 stretch record -- including seven straight wins -- to get to the SunDome, the Spartans drop three of their last five. It is the fifth straight state-tournament loss in three trips for the Spartans under fourth-year coach David Gibb.

Cardenas, the SCAC West MVP took a seat having scored just six points and grabbed one rebound in 13:56 of playing time.

Widely regarded as one of the top players in the boys tournament, Cardenas never got untracked, scoring just 21 points in two games. He came into the tournament leading the team in scoring, rebounding and assists.

As was the case in the first-round loss to King’s, Granger took an early lead, as much as 11-6 in the first period and as late as 4:03 in the second period. But the Eagles steadily chipped away, taking the lead for good at 18-17 on Curtis Long’s 3-pointer with 4:02 remaining in the second period.

By halftime the lead was seven, 29-22 and by the midway point of the third period it was 10, 39-29.

Despite a spirited defensive effort, down the stretch Granger could never pull closer than six points, 52-46, after a Robert Cardenas 3-point field goal with 48 seconds remaining.

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