Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
NORRIS CITY — The NCOE Fighting Cardinals wrapped up the regular season with a 25-8, 25-17 sweep of Woodlawn to improve to 33-2 on the season. NCOE’s only losses came to a pair of 2A teams that have been ranked in the state polls much of the season, Pinckneyville and Fairfield.
Led by six seniors, the Cardinals are now turning their attention to the postseason.
Success is nothing new for NCOE. In the past nine seasons alone, Jaclyn Melton’s teams have won eight regional titles, six sectional championships (including four in a row), and three state trophies. NCOE finished third at the 1A State Tournament when the current group of seniors were freshmen, but the past two seasons have ended in the supersectional, one game short of making it back to Redbird Arena in Normal.
NCOE is the top seed in next week’s Elverado Regional. The Cardinals will face the winner of Woodlawn and Grayville Wednesday night in the first semifinal.
