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As 2023 ended, teams across Kentucky were busy with tournament play that often yielded mixed results.

The 2023 George Rogers Clark Cardinals and Lady Cardinals’ basketball teams were the same.

While the Cards took third place in the first-ever Richmond Car and Truck Holiday Classic, the Lady Cards finished in fifth place at the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies’ Classic in Greeneville, Tn., a tournament featuring twenty teams from multiple states.

The Cards played in Madison County from Dec. 27th-29th.

In the opener, they took on Lincoln County in a rematch of the 2022 KHSAA Final Four – albeit with two different-looking rosters.

After a close matchup against Rowan County in their previous game, the Cards broke out to a convincing first-half lead.

Building an advantage of over 20 points, they cruised to a 71-55 victory to move on to the semifinals.

“I think we played well. [We] came out and started hot”, said senior J.P. Gaines. “It was just good to get on the board early and stay at it the whole game.”

The next game, against South Laurel, wouldn’t be as fortunate.

Despite a double-digit second-quarter lead from GRC, the South Laurel Cardinals rallied and held on for a 60-57 victory.

Not one to go down without a fight, the Cards had a chance to send the game to overtime in the final seconds.

Despite its improbability, sophomore guard Malachi Ashford came close to connecting on a three-point basket near half-court, but it hit off the rim to signal GRC’s first loss of the 2023-24 campaign.

One day later, the Cards were challenged once more in a rematch against host Madison Central.

Although they had been defeated by GRC 70-43 on Dec. 5th, the Indians showed grit and grabbed a 1-point lead with one minute remaining.

However, a clutch three-point basket by Gaines gave the lead back to the Cards.

With less than ten seconds remaining, fellow senior Reshaun Hampton – who finished with an all-time high 30 points – delivered two free throws to provide the Cards with an insurmountable 54-50 lead and final score.

Asked about his mindset before the final shots, Hampton responded.

“Just stay calm”, he said. “The game’s not over until the buzzer ends.”

“Our guys had to show some toughness and come out and play against a well-coached [Madison] Central team,” said GRC head coach Josh Cook. “We had some key plays at the right time and came away with a win.”

As for the Lady Cards, a week in eastern Tennessee delivered strong showings.

The Lady Cards started play in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies’ Classic with a matchup against North Greene (Tn.).

GRC achieved a 71-25 victory by holding their opponent to a season-low.

Just 24 hours later, they played Marist (Ga.).

Although the Lady Cards took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter, a stingy Marist defense would prove too much as GRC was held to five fourth-quarter points and lost its first game of the season 47-43.

However, the team would bounce back well.

In a 72-50 victory over Knoxville Catholic (Tn.), the Lady Cards saw Jailenn Green have a breakout performance.

Coming off the bench, the junior formerly of Bryan Station delivered a team-leading 18 points for the Lady Cards to help the team pull away for a convincing victory.

The next day, Dec. 30th, the Lady Cards wrapped up 2023 play with an 81-40 win against Cocke County (Tn.).

While Green scored 13 points and Ciara Byars, the Lady Cards’ leading scorer this season, added 15, the team also saw points from nine additional players – including 8th grader Kyleigh Chestnut for her first points of the year after being sidelined due to an injury during the season opener against Great Crossing.

The Lady Cards and Cards, each 13-1 headed into 2024, and opened the new year and 40th District play with victories against Paris on Tuesday, Jan. 2nd.