The North Mercer Cardinal basketball teams steamrolled their competition on Wednesday night in the semifinals of the HDC Conference Basketball Tournament being played in Mercer. The Lady Cardinals, in the first semifinal game of the night, beat Pattonsburg 76-29, with Sierra Michaelis scoring 33 points, Courtney Owens 17, and Hayley Sample 12 (on four three-point makes). Pattonsburg was led by Rheanna Gardner's 10 points, in falling into the third place game on Friday night.

The Mercer girls will take on Winston in the girl's championship game on Friday night at 7:30, after the Lady Redbirds held off upset-minded Gilman City, 46-43. Winston was led by Jordan Davis with 16 points and Skylar Hall with 10. The sixth-seeded Lady Hawks had 23 points from sophomore guard Mikayla Toombs. Gilman City plays Pattonsburg for THIRD place on Friday afternoon at 4:30 at North Mercer High School.

The Ridgeway boys continue to play impressively this month, with their DEFENSE shutting down North Harrison in a 49-29 semifinal win for the Owls on Wednesday night. The third-seeded Owls were led by Joe Longo's 16 points, Ben Rinehart's 14, and Matthew Craig's 10. Garren Gibson was the only Shamrock in double figures, with 10 points.

The Mercer boys ran over Winston by a score of 69-33, with senior standout Colton Hartley putting up a spectacular 38 point night, including four three-point field goals. Caleb Wyatt had 16 points (including 4 three-pointers), with Garrett Noe adding 10. Winston did not have a player in double figures.

The Winston boys will play North Harrison for third place on Friday night at 6 o'clock at North Mercer High School. The boy's championship game between the Mercer Cardinals and the Ridgeway Owls is slated for a 9:00 tip-off.