After an incredible season, the Cardinals fell short in the Elite 8, dropping an early Friday game to Elizabethtown, 65-44.

The Cardinals struggled to score early in the first quarter, and started the game with an 8-0 deficit.

Jerone Morton then got hot, leading the Cards’ offense in the first period with 10 points on 5-5 from the field. It wasn’t enough to stop the Panthers’ momentum as they finished the first on top, 20-14.

The Cards continued to struggle in the second quarter, not being able to defend the transition, and the Panthers headed into halftime with a 13-point lead, 37-24.

GRC came out of halftime showing fans what we are used to seeing and cutting the E-Town lead to 9.

Unfortunately, the Panthers kept trucking through the GRC defense and continued to dominate in the paint.

The Cards ended the third quarter trailing the Panthers, 49-38.

The fourth quarter resembled much of the previous quarters for the Cards as they continued to have a hard time finding any offense.

Uncharacteristically, the Cards went 2-15 from 3-point range.

The Panthers started stretching their lead in the final minutes to end the game, 65-44.

Morton led the Cards with 16, followed by Trent Edwards and Aden Slone with 10 points each.

The Cardinals had one of their toughest days of the season, but at times still showed Cardinal Nation what they were capable of.

GRC finished the season with a 20-5 record, a 40th District and 10th Region championship, and an incredible run to the Elite 8.