Making the most of a second chance -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

 FORMER CARD LINDSEY DUVALL HAVING SUCCESS AT NKU

With Louisville WBB on a COVID pause, not much to report on the Cardinal crew these days -- so I thought I might do a "feel good" story this Monday. After all, it is the holiday season, we report on 'the joy and excitement' of things and the age-old philosophy of "once a Card, always a Card" carries credible veracity in a lot of circles. 

Consider the story of Lindsey Duvall. 

You remember "Lil Duv", right? She was a Miss Kentucky in GBB back in 2017. Decided on Louisville after originally thinking "maybe UK" announcing her desire to be a Cat but then changing her mind and committing to Louisville. A 5'8" shooting guard, ostensibly -- for Chris Stallings at Bullitt East High School, but mostly played as a "4" for the Mt. Washington school.  A definitive three point threat and team player. Knee injuries, yes, they were a part of it as well. Six operations before she stepped on the court as a Cardinal. Having to sit out her freshman year because of knee trouble in 2017-18. 

I always wondered how'd she perform on the DI level, given 25-30 minutes a game  She never got that chance at Louisville, part of a very deep and talented roster that went 60-8 in the two years she did see action for the Cards, mostly in a reserve role.  Duvall was good, no doubt about it, but others were better and the scenario eventually came to the question of deciding whether to be a reserve or a starter somewhere. College time is limited. Players want to be productive -- to play. 

She chose to seek playing time elsewhere. She turned to NKU and Carmyn Whitaker, a coach she'd known since the seventh grade. In some circles, it's thought that when Whitaker left UK as an assistant coach to take the NKU head coaching job, that was the deciding factor for Duvall to switch commitments from UK to UofL.  When Duvall went looking for a new school, Whitaker made no promises other that she'd be given a chance to earn playing time and try competition on a slightly less difficult and competitive level that the ACC. The Horizon League. A mid-major in the scheme of DI ball, but, a Kentucky university that has a loyal fan base, is less that two hours from her home and had six or seven players she was familiar with from those high school days. 

She worked hard during the COVID summer, learned the system and she and her teammates began the season against an Ohio-based slate of schools in Cincinnati, Akron, Bowling Green and Ohio St. All on the road except for Bowling Green. All losses for NKU, but, Duvall a bright spot for the Norse in a reserve role -- with 11.25 points-per-game and nine rebounds in about 26 minutes a game. Nearly a double-double -- coming off the bench. 

Whitaker consulted with another "newbie" -- assistant coach Anthony Epps. Yes, that Epps -- the UK star. He had coached against Duvall when he was at Campbellsville High School. He knew the talent within. They gave Duvall the start in the opener of Horizon League play -- against Pittsburgh-based Robert Morris, and Duvall responded with 21 points, four threes, 13 rebound in 27 minutes in a lopsided win for the Norse. If there were sightings and reportings of a new star in the sky over Highland Heights, KY -- it was probably Duvall's ascension into stardom. 

The Horizon League is doing things a bit differently in 2020. (Aren't we all?)  So far, they are pitting opponents against each other back-to-back on consecutive days. So, the next day, another NKU win and a 12-point effort from Duvall. 

Saturday and Sunday found NKU at Purdue-Ft. Wayne, home of  one of Cardinal Couple's favorite mascots -- Don the Mastodon. Lindsey found Fort Wayne to her liking, in the two NKU wins over "Don's Gang" -- she put up 38 points in her 56 minutes of  time and shot 50% (6-12) from three-point range. 

We are proud of her at Cardinal Couple. She remains one of my favorite interviews of a high school Cardinal prospect. Shoot,, I've even walked around Lindsey Duvall Park in Mt. Washington to get a little exercise. 

For Lindsey, the second chance is paying big dividends. Sometimes...those second chances do. If Lil Duv is happy and productive in her new surroundings, then I'm happy for her.  I can remember her high school coach, Chris Stallings, telling me that he'd never had a harder-working player in his coaching career. He said something to the effect of "you might beat her, but you'll never out-work her." That persistence of hard work is finally paying off for Lindsey. and NKU. And, it's a beautiful thing to see.

If anyone deserved a break, a second chance -- it's certainly been Lindsey,.. after all she's been through. 

May the good days continue. 

paulie

Lindsey Duvall gets park named after her -- Lacrosse in ACC Today -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

2017 MISS BASKETBALL HONORED WITH MT. WASHINGTON PARK NAMING

Chris Stallings is one of those guys who you like as soon as you meet him. The Bullitt East head girls basketball coach has spent countless hours working with and developing the basketball skills of hundreds of basketball players in the Mt. Washington and Bullitt County area. He does it with a smile and encouragement. When a person loves what they do, it comes very easy and effortlessly. There's pride there. 

Ironically, one of the first times I met him, he was wearing a UConn women's basketball t-shirt. That's unique enough in Mt. Washington...but the fact that he had his star player Lindsey Duvall headed to Louisville to play for Jeff Walz in the fall of 2017 was enough  cause for me to do a double take and wonder if something was afoot and Geno had gotten to the affable skipper of the Chargers. Stallings relieved my fears instantly.

"It's just the first shirt I grabbed and put on this morning. I talked to my athletic apparel supplier this morning. There's a lot of red and black stuff on the way." 

Stallings relates this story about Duvall: 

"We do things a little differently here at Bullitt East. At halftime of games, we let the kids in the stands take the court and shoot baskets. Lindsey's older sister played for me her at Bullitt East and Lindsey would get out there when she was in the second or third grade and hoop it up. You could tell at that age, she was sticking with it and she was going to be a player. She was going to be something special. I'd tell folks that they had to watch that little girl out there and they stay in the stands and watch her shoot...not go to the concession stand. That's the beauty here. You get to see them early on. They go to the camps, middle school and end up playing ball for me here."

Mt. Washington has gotten larger over the years. From a small, sleepy town with a two-lane Main Street...hardware store, funeral home, Dairy Queen (which was a Burger Queen way back when) a Baptist church, several locally owned businesses and restaurants and surplus store to a thriving, small community with major shopping malls, a bypass around the main street and huge high school that sits right off the bypass. Where Bardstown Road meets Hwy 44. But, it still has a small town feel. Kids still run the court at halftime. Coach still shakes your hand and treats you like your kin. When people ask you how you're doing, it's a sincere and honest inquiry. A part of America I do love so. 

Duvall grew up also. She starred at Bullitt Central and was heavily recruited by both Kentucky and Louisville. She was always in a particular park shooting baskets whenever the weather allowed and she wasn't in the gym practicing her craft. Staying to watch Coach's son play baseball in that same park when she had exhausted herself after hours of dribbling, shooting and rebounding. You could say it was one of her homes away from home. 

And now it's named after her. 

The Mount Washington mayor and city council made it so. Stallings hasn't come out publicly and talked about his involvement in the naming...but one could probably correctly surmise that he was an integral part of the idea and it's rise to fruition. 

Duvall enters her red-shirt freshman season at UofL after sitting out last year due to some knee issues. She had a tumorous growth removed from her left knee while in high school but some remaining fragmentation needed to be cleaned out that was causing pain during her freshman year on the Cardinal roster. She recovered nicely and probably could have played for the Cards around the beginning of ACC season in 2017-18 but chose to continue to learn and develop without wasting a year of eligibility. Oh, the things she saw! The memories made and places visited. A year wiser and ready to go, she'll ply her trade for a team that was one missed foul call and one tip-in attempt that barely rolled out from a NCAA Championship game against a foe already twice beaten earlier in the year. 

There will be cookouts and pickup basketball games in Lindsey Duvall Park this summer. Elderly people out for a stroll or walking their dogs. Children playing tag or attempting to fly kites or playing catch. Baseball games and cheering. 

There just might also be the next Lindsey Duvall. A young girl, time after time, throwing a round orb at a round rim. Practicing the dribble so the other kids won't steal the ball from her. Perfecting the shot. Scraping a knee occasionally and contesting a foul during a one-on-one or pickup game. Maybe even Lindsey herself will drive by, stop the car and watch for awhile. Maybe hear that little girl yell out to another young girl:

 "I'm Lindsey, you're Asia and I'm going to hit this jumper to beat Notre Dame!"

Legends. Dreams. Hometown heroes. It's what America is made of. How many of us spent time in the backyard, or at a small park or parking lot throwing an old, worn-out rubber basketball at a rim with no net. In barely-above freezing weather. When it was so hot that the sweat from your head rolled into your eyes and made the basket blurry. When you challenged the kid who always beat you to just one more game of "21'...even though the light was fading from the sky. 

Lindsey's honor is an honor, in a way, to all those kids and adults out there who ignored the call for supper, in order to get a few more shots up. Who played against every kind of competition available. Who played for love of game and the thrill of seeing that long or contested shot drop through the rim. 

I'd like to think that a decade or so from now...a young mother takes her child for an afternoon walk and the child looks up and says: "Mommy, your name is on that gate overhead!" Knowing Lindsey, she's smile and tell her young charge: "C'mon, now. We need to get to the court so you can shoot the basketball." 


LACROSSE ENTERS ACC TOURNAMENT PLAY TODAY.

The Louisville Lacrosse team has safely arrived in Durham, NC and is preparing for their first game of the ACC Lacrosse Tournament. A tall order, indeed, in front of Scott Teeter's LAXERS...facing #2 in the nation and #1 in the ACC Boston College for an 11 a.m. contest this morning.

The Cards need a win today, and most likely need to win the ACC Tournament to get into the NCAA Tournament. They have two players that received second-team All-ACC Honors yesterday in freshman Caroline Blalock and Emily Howell.

Boston College placed (4) on the All-ACC first team. 

Today's action will be shown on Fox Sports South. Here's hoping the LAXCards can get off to a great start and hold on to the lead as time expires. An upset in the brewing? We'll know around 1 p.m.this afternoon. 

Have a tremendous Thursday. 

"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana." 


paulie
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Lindsey, Dana, Golf and Lacrosse -- Wednesday Cardinal Couple

DUVALL, BULLITT EAST ADVANCE IN DISTRICT

Bullitt East senior and future Louisville Cardinal women's basketball player Lindsey Duvall had ten first half points and a couple of threes in the Chargers 72-23 win over Jeffersontown in 24th. District action Tuesday night in Mt. Washington. 

The Chargers vs. Chargers match-up belonged to the Mt. Washington version from the start...Bullitt East pulling out to a 26-11 first period advantage and holding a 45-18 lead at the half. Duvall was impressive in the limited minutes she had in the romp...Coach Chris Stallings went to the reserves with 4:23 left in the second period and for most of the second half and the game had a continuous clock for most of the final 16 minutes. 

Bullitt East led 56-21 after three and kept the defensive pressure rolling in the final period. J-Town was limited to just five second half points and Stallings "played them all"  in the 49-point win. 

Bullitt East will face Mercy Academy Thursday night for the district title and advance to the Sixth Region Tournament. The Jaguars disposed of Fern Creek in the second game at Bullitt East 98-74.  With their first post-regular season test successfully completed, the Chargers now look ahead to a game against an opponent that they must successfully rebound against and play aggressive defense for 32 minutes. The Chargers won the regular season contest 70-66. 

I had the chance to attend the game and had a great time! The fun and down-home feel of high school hoops is one that makes you realize that it's all about the school, the kids and the game. From the booster club grilling burgers and rib-eye steaks in the parking lot, the 50//50 raffle in the stands...the pep band in the southeast corner of the wooden bleachers and friendly people greeting you like your some sort of celebrity or something...my two hours in Mt. Washington made me remember why I got into this website to begin with. The joy and excitement of athletics. Hometown fans cheering for kids they watched grow up, go to church with and see at the local grocery or department store. 

The "wise-guys" sitting on the edge of the stage. The referees thanking the little girls and fans who retrieve the out-of-bounds balls. Doing post-game interviews in the locker-room hallway to escape the frenetic back-ground noise of the fans in the bleachers getting pumped up for the next contest. Walking over to the scorer's table at halftime to get stats out of the official score-book. Thinking back to memories of many years ago when I ran the hardwood and battled those boards.

I do love it so. 

I was able to get a fan's perspective on the game, Lindsey Duvall and Louisville sports from Karen Walsh....who was there to watch the Mercy Academy game as well (her daughter plays for Mercy) and she graciously shared a couple of stories with me. Hear the audio below: 

PAULIE CHATS UP BASKETBALL FAN KAREN WALSH


I also caught up with Coach Stallings and Lindsey after the game and conducted a post-game interview with both. That link is below: 

CHRIS STALLINGS AND LINDSEY DUVALL INTERVIEW


Heartfelt and extended thanks to the fine folks at Bullitt East who made my visit very enjoyable. Best of luck to Lindsey and her squad as they look to advance to the Sweet Sixteen and beyond.

And, the rib-eye sandwich I bought as leaving was delicious and gone by the time I reached Fern Creek.

Should have got two...


DANA EVANS ONE OF FIVE NAISMITH FINALIST

One of the questions I meant to ask (but forgot) of Lindsey Duvall was her impressions on fellow 2017 Louisville commit Dana Evans being selected one of the five finalists for the Naismith High School Girls Trophy. The winner will be announced in early March. 

The 5'9" point guard from West Side High School, Gary, IN has some very impressive company on that list with her. The other four: 

Rellah Boothe F (Texas commit)
Anastasia Hayes PG (Tennessee commit) 
Megan Walker W (Connecticut commit) 
Evina Westbrook G (Tennessee commit) 

Best of luck to Dana as that decision day draws near...


WOMEN'S GOLF TAKES THIRD IN CENTRAL DISTRICT INVITATIONAL

In their first spring meet of 2017, Louisville women's golf finished third in the Central District Invitational in Port St. Lucie, FL. 

Freshman Lauren Hartlage ended up fourth in the scoring for Louisville. The Cards finished behind Furman and Memphis in the tournament. Molly Skapik tied for 12th and Louise Oxner tied for 14th.  

The Cards head to the Hurricane Invitational next at the Biltmore Golf Course in Coral Gables. Let's hope the name of the event doesn't mirror the weather they have to play in...


LACROSSE HOSTS VANDY TODAY


3 p.m. is the start time for Louisville Lacrosse's match against Vanderbilt today at the Louisville Lacrosse Stadium. The Cards (3-1) enter the event after a 11-10 triple overtime loss to Denver over the weekend. 

Vandy (1-0) took their season opener over Kennesaw State 17-5. 

Louisville leads the series 5-2...the Cards won last year in Nashville 15-5. Meghan Siverson leads Louisville with 16 goals and McKayla Conti has found the net 12 times this season. Hannah Koloski, the speed merchant from Lakeville, MN has 11 goals for the Cards. 

It's a beautiful day to be outside and excellent chance to watch a little Lacrosse. These two have built up a bit of a rivalry over the last couple years...so come on out and catch the contest. 

We talked about it on Paulie on Howie Lindsey's LOUISVILLE FIRST 2-21-17


paulie
xxxxx

Women's Golf 2nd in Central District Invitational -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

LAUREN HARTLAGE TIED FOR FIRST GOING INTO FINAL DAY

Thoughts of golf near the end of February aren't traditionally on our minds here at Cardinal Couple. But, with the unseasonably warm weather we've being having in Louisville over the past several days...and the success of the Louisville women's golf team in Port St. Lucie, FL....let's talk a little chip and putt.

Lauren Hartlage has had a wonderful two days in the Central District Invitational and is tied for first place with a 36 hole total of 4-under-par 140. The freshman out of Elizabethtown, KY put up an opening round of 68 on Sunday and followed that up yesterday with a 72. 

The team is hitting the fairway and sinking the putts as well. Louisville is in second place at nine-over-par 585 and trails only Furman in the 14 team field. Furman has a 14 stroke lead over the Cards going into the final day. 

The Cards have six golfers on the fairways in Florida...four on the team and two participating as individuals (That term always makes me smile in golf...aren't we all individuals...with our own needs and desire and thoughts...?) Molly Skapic is having a fine couple of days for UofL with a two-day score of 147...which has her tied for seventh...and Olivia Cason a stroke back of her at 148.  A full individual and team listing at the end of this article. Skapic is a junior out of Miamisburg, OH and Cason a sophomore from Owensboro, KY. 

The Cards are a rather young bunch for head coach Courtney Trimble this season. Only two seniors are on the roster, one junior, three sophomores and three freshmen. Besides Hartlage and Cason, Ellen Kehoe is also from Kentucky...the sophomore played her golf in high school in Campbellsville, KY at Taylor County High School . 

Central District Invitational
Feb. 20, 2017
St. Lucie Trail Golf Club (par 72/6,265 yards)
Port St. Lucie, Fla.

TOP-FIVE TEAM SCORES PLUS LOUISVILLE (36-hole totals): 1. Furman – 282-289; 2. Louisville – 287-298; 3. Augusta – 297-299; 4. North Carolina – 298-301; 5. Memphis – 301-299

LOUISVILLE GOLFERS (of 75): t-1. Lauren Hartlage – 68-72; t-7. Molly Skapik – 71-76; t-16. Olivia Cason – 72-76; t-32. (i) Shannon Gramley – 79-75; t-50. Louise Oxner – 82-76; t-56. Jacqueline Twitty – 74-87

BULLITT EAST WBB STARTS DISTRICT PLAY

Kentucky Girls High School basketball tournament time is here! District play started Monday and continues today as teams strive to reach the Regionals and ultimately the Sweet Sixteen. 

Cardinal signee Lindsey Duvall leads the Bullitt East Chargers into District play tonight when they host Jeffersontown tonight at 6 p.m. J'Town goes by the Chargers as well...so this should be a pretty energized game.  At least for the Bullitt East squad. They defeated J'Town 79-21 earlier in the season. 

Head Bullitt East coach David Stallings has led the Mt. Washington school to a 23-7 record this season. They went 3-0 in District 24 play and 8-1 in the Sixth Region. 

Seygan Robins, the junior Cardinal commit from Mercer County, got started with her squad last night and had no trouble in the 46th. District contest against Burgin...winning 64-19. 

paulie
xxxxx

Battle of Future Cards -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

MERCER COUNTY "SHOOTS" PAST BULLITT EAST 73-59 IN L.I.T. QUARTERFINALS

Robins scores 23, Duvall 20 in Future WBB Cards showdown 

Bellarmine University's Knights Gym was the scene Friday night as #2 Mercer County and #11 Bullitt East squared off in the quarterfinals of the Republic Bank Girls L.I.T.  Each squad hoped to advance to today's semifinals at Assumption High School to face Louisville Male but Mercer County used a dominating fourth quarter to down the Mt. Washington school 73-59. 

2018 Louisville verbal Seygan Robins led all scorers with 23 points and proved clutch in the game late...scoring 11 of her points in the decisive fourth quarter....where the Titans outscored the Chargers 24-15. Winning coach Chris Souder was pleased with her effort and the win: 

" She took over the game in the second half and that's what UofL signees do... Coach Walz has to be ecstatic knowing he's getting Seygan and Lindsey Duvall." 

After a close first quarter where Mercer County led 11-10, Bullitt East senior guard and 2017 Louisville commit Lindsey Duvall had four points. Twins Faith and Lexy Lake were handling the scoring for Mercer County...hitting three 3's in the quarter. Robins hadn't scored yet. Souder wasn't pleased.  

" I wasn't real happy. I felt like they were the aggressors and getting every loose ball and second and third shot. They just took it at us." 

Bullitt East started the second quarter on a 11-1 run...which was part of a 16-1 run going back to the first quarter...and led 21-12 after Alyssa Peak scored, got fouled and converted the free throw at the 6:14 mark. Mercer County responded with a 15-6 run and tied the contest at 27-27 on two Robins free throws after a Duvall foul with 3:01 until half. The teams went to the locker room for the halftime break tied at 31-31...Robins scoring with two seconds on the clock. Coach Stallings on the Mercer County run: 

"They just shot the ball a little better from the arc. They were a few loose balls they got and kicked out for open threes. We just didn't shoot the ball as well as we normally do." 

Mercer County was 6 for 17 from the deep in the first half and Robins had five points. Duvall was on the board with six points and an exciting second half seemed to be in the offing. 

A Lexy Lake three gave Mercer the early third quarter lead and they never trailed again. They started with a 10-2 run. When Robins nailed a jumper... the Titans had pushed out to a 41-33 advantage with 5:10 left in third quarter action. Bullitt East made a run to get within four at 43-39 after a Peak jumper but Robins responded with a three thirty seconds later and the quarter ended with the Titans holding a five-point 49-44 edge. 

Duvall was driving the lane and having success or getting fouled for the Chargers but the fourth quarter belonged to Robins and Mercer County. 

A 16-4 run over the first five minutes of the final quarter...they play eight minute quarters in high school hoops, which took this observer a bit to get used to...was keyed by seven Robins points. It put the Titans up 63-48. Mercer County held their biggest lead at 67-49 after Robins two final points and two free throws with 2:25 left to play. Duvall would score Bullitt East's final seven points but the late efforts weren't enough to overcome the Titans lead and Duvall's three with 10 seconds left in the game set the final total at 73-59. 

Faith and Lexy Lake, who have been offered by Southeast Missouri State University, joined Robins in double figures with 12 each and Lyric Houston added 11 for Mercer County...including 7 for 8 free-throw shooting. The Titans went 10 for 25 from three-point range. SEMO is getting a great 2 for 1 special in these twins...aggressive on defense, they shoot well from the distance and they pass the ball well for assists also. 

Duvall was gallant in defeat with 20 points. Peak joined her in double figures with 11 points. Bullitt East held a 42-28 rebounding advantage but ended with just 35% accuracy from the floor (21-60) while Mercer shot 46.9% (23-49).

Both Duvall and Robins showed why Coach Walz and Louisville is eager to have them on campus and they are two of the best girls high school players in the state this year...if not the best two. A great evening of hoops! A nice sea of red and black dotted the Bellarmine bleacher to see the contest and Louisville's future stars. 

As an aside, Tony Montano was one of the referees in the contest. I didn't get a chance to "say hello to my little friend". (Sorry, Al Pacino...for the pun and yes, I know...it was Montana in the movie "Scarface").  

COACH STALLINGS POST GAME REMARKS

COACH SOUDER POSTGAME REMARKS  


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In earlier action, Sacred Heart Academy got 21 points from junior Grace Berger and 18 from junior Kiki Samsel and defeated Simon Kenton 56-45. They'll face Louisville Butler in the first Saturday semifinal. 

Simon Kenton went down shooting...firing 25 threes but hitting just six. Allyson Niece had 18 for the Pioneers. Berger is a verbal to Indiana University for 2018 and the Hoosiers and getting a good one in the 5'11" guard. A good defensive job by the Valkyries in holding Simon Kenton to about 20 points under their season average.  

I arrived at Knights Hall in time to catch the start of the Sacred Heart/Simon Kenton contest and stayed through the Mercer County/Bullitt East game. I was impressed with the friendly L.I.T staff and their eagerness to help me get where I needed to be. Plus, they had Chic-Fil-A in the media/break room....always a plus with this guy's appetite. 


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RADIO TODAY! 

We'll be in full force at the Crescent Hill studios this morning for THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR. Join Case, Worldwide and me as we review this game, Louisville basketball and whatever else crosses our agenda.

11 a.m. on WCHQ 100.9 FM and streaming live on the Internet at www.crescenthillradio.com  Download the WCHQ app and join in the fun! 

Live radio, three generations and no messy clean-up or hard-to-remove stains afterward. if Attila the Hun had been able to do radio, it probably would have been...hmmm...where I am going with this? 

Never mind...

Have brunch with us today. We won't mind one bit if you pick up the tab. 


paulie
xxxxx