Cardinals compete at annual Mulvane tournament

Written by Natalie Drouhard, website editor-in-chief

With both girls and boys basketball teams being quarantined during the week of the Chaparral tournament for the boys, tournament play for the girls in Mulvane the following week was uncertain. Even without practicing for two weeks, the girls did join the Mulvane tournament. The tournament took place the last week of January. 

“The tournament was pretty rough, and we were overwhelmed with the shortage of players,” senior Tracy Johnsen said. “One girl got injured after the first game, and another girl quit after the second game.”

Conway lost the Tuesday and Thursday games, but were able to win their game on Saturday and finish in fifth place. Due to COVID-19, fans were limited, which added to the atmosphere being low. With new coaches, a lot of traditions were lost, like the annual dinner at a sports bar after the final game of the tournament on Saturday.

“It felt less exciting,” said junior Ally Lange. “We didn’t stay after to watch the other games or go out to eat like we used to every year.” 

In past years, the best JV players were selected to join the varsity team as backups to compete in the Mulvane tournament. This year, all of the players were needed. 

“I was really nervous about competing in this tournament,” freshman Gabby Dalbom said. “I got a lot of playing time, which was tiring, but makes me excited for next year.”

The girls lost the first game against Collegiate 27-41 and the second game against Wichita North 37-48. Their final game was a win against Arkansas City 36-26.

Junior and point guard Loren May guards the paint during a home game against Cheney Dec. 4. May has since suffered an injury to her ACL and meniscus and is out for the rest of the season. (Photo by Cassidy Beal)