Cardinals go 2-1 following holiday break
The Washburn Cardinals boys basketball team navigated a demanding three-game stretch over the holiday break with resilience, responding to a narrow opening loss by closing the week with two convincing victories to improve to 4–1 overall.
Washburn opened the stretch Dec. 29, at Bismarck State College, where the Cardinals came up just short in a 62–59 loss to Park River.
The neutral-site matchup featured a tight contest throughout, with both teams trading momentum and neither side able to pull away.
Washburn remained within a possession late but was unable to convert on its final opportunities as Park River edged out the three-point win.
The Cardinals quickly regrouped the following night, Dec. 30, facing North Border at United Tribes Technical College.
Washburn delivered a strong response, pulling away for a 71–57 victory behind improved defensive intensity and a more consistent offensive rhythm.