By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
On Tuesday night, the Minneapolis basketball teams welcomed in Ell-Saline for a two-game non-league set.
The four teams would split the two games down the middle, with a dominant 57-23 win for the Lady Lions, and an equally uneven 63-32 victory for the Cardinals of Ell-Saline.
Girls: Ell-Saline 23, Minneapolis 57
The Lady Lions jumped all over Ell-Saline early in this game, forcing double-digit turnovers in each of the first two quarters.
Those turnovers would translate to big points for Minneapolis, who led 16-6 at the end of the first quarter, and 30-15 at the halftime intermission.
Much of that first half damage was done by Baylee Randall-Hurt, who scored 10 points in the first two quarters alone.
The second half saw more of the same as Minneapolis turned up the heat and pulled away down the stretch, winning 57-23.
Maci McClure came on strong with 7 second-half points, equalling Randall-Hurt for the game lead with 13 on the day.
Ultimately, ten different Lady Lions would contribute at least one bucket while just five Lady Cardinals found the scoring column.
Minneapolis opens their season 1-0 while Ell-Saline falls to 0-1.
Boys: Ell-Saline 63, Minneapolis 32
The boys game would end up being even more lopsided, but this time in favor of a Cardinal team that has started their season hot at 2-0.
Transition baskets, three-pointers and a handful of big first-quarter dunks delivered a huge edge to the Cardinals, who led 20-9 at the end of the first.
To add insult to injury, Owen Just picked up his third foul for Minneapolis late in the first, and would have to sit for the entire second quarter as Ell-Saline pulled away to lead 39-15 at halftime.
A big third quarter in which the Cardinals allowed just three made field goals sealed the deal, as Ell-Saline pulled away to win 63-32.
Nine different Cardinals would chip in at least one bucket in this game, led by Kas Kramer (18) Brogan Rowley (16) and Trey Williams (10).
Owen Just scored six fourth-quarter points to lead the Lions with 11 on the day, but got just 21 points from four other teammates in the loss.
Ell-Saline rolls to 2-0 while Minneapolis falls to 0-2 to start the season.