ERIE, Ill. — A day after Erie girls basketball coach Brian Howell questioned the desire of his team, the Cardinals responded in a big way Thursday at the Warkins Cardinal Classic girls basketball tournament.

“We didn’t go out with our hearts (Wednesday), but you could see a big difference from last night to tonight,” Erie junior Laykin Miner said. “We had a walk-through (Thursday morning) and we did fun things. We went through our plays, but then we played games. As a team we meshed more, and that really helped us.”

Miner led the charge early, scoring six of Erie’s first nine points as the Cardinals built a 9-3 lead on their way to a 57-44 win over Ridgewood.

“It felt great coming out and getting that lead,” Miner said. “I remember playing Ridgewood when we were in middle school and had Dads’ Club and that stuff. I knew their players and they are good at perimeter guarding, so we could drive against them.”

Ridgewood scored to make it 9-5, but then Erie scored the next nine points to take an 18-5 lead. Ridgewood didn’t get closer than six points the rest of the way. When the Spartans attempted to come back, Miner and the Cardinals had an answer.

Ridgewood cut the lead to eight early in the third quarter, but Courtney Cobert — who scored a game-high 19 points — drilled a jumper to push it back to 10. Then Miner got one of her game-high six steals in the backcourt and converted a transition layup, keying a run that pushed the lead back to 15.

The Spartans again made a run, cutting the Cardinals’ lead to 46-37 with three minutes to play in the game. Miner made a pair of free throws to push the lead back to double figures, where it would stay for the rest of the game.

“Once they cut into our lead, we went back into transition,” Miner said. “We got the ball and we ran. That’s what we do best.”

Rachel Cobert pulled down 14 rebounds for Erie.



Morrison falters down stretch

Morrison held Rockridge scoreless and built a 6-0 lead after the first quarter, but things went downhill quickly for the Fillies.

Rockridge took a 16-12 lead at halftime and led 22-15 midway through the third quarter. But then Morrison gave up a 27-7 run to fall behind 49-22 and eventually lose 49-25.

Ashley Greul scored eight points to lead the Fillies and Miranda Potter’s 17 points was tops for Rockridge.



Elsewhere

In other pool-play games Thursday:

Knoxville outscored Galva 40-13 in the middle two quarters behind Tessa Jones’ 21 points for a 63-32 win.

Stockton led Bureau Valley 6-5 after the first quarter and then outscored the Storm 44-5 the rest of the way for a 50-10 win. Emily Langfield and Brooke Beneventi each scored 10 points to lead Stockton.

Monmouth-Roseville outscored Mercer County 40-16 in the middle two quarters behind Jordan Johnson’s 20 points for a 60-28 win.



ERIE 57, RIDGEWOOD 44

RIDGEWOOD — Madison Miller 1 1-4 4, Taylor Brooks 0 2-2 2, Molly Jo Smith 0 2-2 2, Jasmine Jefko 1 2-4 4, Hannah Garrett 1 0-0 2, Ashley Collins 5 1-4 16, Morgan Green 3 3-5 9, Addison Barman 1 0-4 3, Caitie Allen 0 1-2 1, Katie Miller 0 1-6 1, Sabrina Medley 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 13-33 44.

ERIE — Paige Rus 3 0-0 7, Peyton Rus 1 0-0 2, Bailee Classen 0 0-0 0, Courtney Cobert 5 7-12 19, Lindsey Tempelmann 0 0-0 0, Des Lawson 3 5-7 11, Rachel Cobert 2 2-3 6, Victoria Young 1 0-0 2, Laykin Miner 3 3-8 10, Lexi Floming 0 0-0 0, Kayla Waggoner 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 17-30 57.

Ridgewood    8    10    11    15    —    44

Erie    18    10    10    19    —    57

3-point goals — Ridgewood 7 (Collins 5, Miller, Barman); Erie 4 (C. Cobert 2, Miner, Pa. Rus). Total fouls — Ridgewood 24; Erie 25. Fouled out — Medley, Brooks, Pa. Rus, R. Cobert.



ROCKRIDGE 49, MORRISON 25

ROCKRIDGE — Miranda Potter 4 8-13 17, Cheyanne Bowman 0 0-2 0, Amie Kranz 0 0-0 0, Devin Hasson 0 0-0 0, Destiny Grawe 4 3-4 13, Beth Meier 4 2-3 10, Michaela Stoneking 3 1-3 7, Taylor Cullen 0 0-0 0, Molly Wright 1 0-3 2. Totals 16 14-28 49.

MORRISON — Brandi Hosford 1 0-0 2, Alyssa Canales 0 1-2 1, Lakin Goodman 2 0-1 4, Rachel Davis 0 0-1 0, Chelsea Eads 2 2-2 7, Ashley Greul 3 2-4 8, Adrienne Banks 1 1-2 3, Wallander 0 0-2 0. Totals 9 6-14 25.

Rockridge    0    16    18    15    —    49

Morrison    6    6    3    10    —    25

3-point goals — Rockridge 3 (Grawe 2, Potter); Morrison 1 (Eads). Total fouls — Rockridge 18; Morrison 24. Fouled out — Goodman, Davis, Greul. Technical foul — Eads.