CARRINGTON (NewsDakota)- This season, the Carrington Cardinals girls basketball team has had two overwhelming characteristics, their defense and their balance.  And against a good Rugby team, Carrington went back to the well one more time.  Marah Johnson led eight Cardinal scorers with 16 points as Carrington beat Rugby 56-37 on Tuesday night at home.

The first quarter was tic for tac as Elise Fahnestock scored six for the Panthers (6-2) to stay within 12-10 after one.  But Carrington (9-1) ran away in the second as Johnson scored ten in the quarter and the Cardinals extended the lead to twelve by halftime.

Edyn Hornaert scored ten of her thirteen after the break and Brynn Smith, starting in place of the injured Maara Kutz, chipped in with nine as Carrington never led by less than nine after halftime.

The Cardinals are back in action Friday night as they host the Lisbon Broncos with coverage on KDAK The Cardinal beginning at 6:45 PM.

RHS          10          7          9         11                    37

CHS          12         17         14        13                   56

RUGBY: Sara Schmaltz 11; Katie Sullivan 6; Elise Fahnestock 6; Hallie Hauck 4; Alli Blessum 4; Avery Santjer 4; Abby Hager 2

CARRINGTON: Marah Johnson 16; Edyn Hornaert 13; Brynn Smith 9; Kaydence Van Ray 7; Aniston Hornaert 5; Sienna Topp 2; Harper Kollman 2; Isabel Wendel 2

FULL GAME REPLAY: