The GRC Cardinals have advanced to the 10th Region title game tonight for a chance to win back-to-back region championships.

GRC topped Mason County 64-58 at the Fieldhouse Friday in the semis.

After a back and forth 1st quarter, the Cardinals seemed to hit a wall in the second quarter. Defensively they just seemed lost and offensively they couldn’t throw it in the ocean.

Mason County shot lights out in the 2nd quarter, and pulled away with all the momentum at halftime to take a 36-26 lead.

After the half, the Cardinals came out guns a blazin’. The Cards’ defense was on point, forcing Mason County turnovers. The offense began to click, and there just seemed to be an energy from the Cards that wasn’t there in the first half.

GRC outscored Mason County 18-4 in the 3rd quarter that gave them a four-point lead going into the 4th.  

Even though the Cards had all the momentum after a massive 3rd quarter, the Royals wouldn’t go away.

With just about five minutes to go, and the Royals crawling back, Jared Wellman hit a massive three to make it a three-possession game.

Mason County cut it back to a one-possession game with two minutes to go, but Jerone Morton and Aden Slone made some big time layups to allow the Cards to maintain a lead.

The defense stepped up big late, keeping the Royals away from the arc and forcing a couple of big stops.

Slone made a couple of free throws that put the icing on the cake to give the Cardinals a 64-58 victory.

Morton led the team with 18 points and Wellman with 17 right behind him.

Trent Edwards had a major impact on the floor with 11 points and some massive blocks.

Slone added eight and had a major impact on the floor late.

The Cardinals now take on the Camels of Campbell County in the Region Championship tonight at 7:00 in hopes to repeat from last year.