It was a battle all night, but in the end it was just too much depth for the Karval Trojans, as they were able to hold off a valiant attempt by the McClave Cardinals Friday in McClave. Karval, ranked number three in the state in 1A boys, came out on top 60-53 in a District 2 battle.
In the end it was probably a 13-6 deficit in the opening period of play that did the Cards in, as it turned out to be the final margin of victory.
McClave played evenly with the Trojans throughout the second and third stanzas, but the margin remained at five to seven points throughout those periods.
Karval is a team that returned all of its returning starters, and that experience showed in the hard fought fourth quarter. It was in the final period that McClave made their run. The Cardinals scored 25 points in that period, and each time that they needed a stop, they were unable to do so. The Cards did get it down to 55-51 with just slightly more than two minutes remaining; they had two opportunites to pull within two or even one, but two missed three-pointers and and a missed one-and-one hurt McClave. Karval was able to make six of eight free throws late to McClave at bay.
Junior Gabe Benabides had another outstanding night for the Cards, knocking down 31 points, while running mate Jimmy Bencomo had 13. But Karval had three players in double figures, and were led by returning All Stater Brett Stone's 23 points. It was too much for McClave to overcome.
