By DONN ADAMSON\Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Thursday, February 17, 2005
Updated: Thursday, February 17, 2005 11:07 AM CST

FERGUSON - The Mineral Area Cardinals have only three games left before the Region 16 Tournament, and Wednesday night they played as they were ready for it now. After losing their last two games, the Cardinals took little time to jump ahead of the host team, the Florissant Valley Norsemen, and then stretched their lead to collect a 109-72 win.

The Cardinals led at the half, 52-31, and would quickly take a 30-point plus lead by midway through the second half, partly due to Ryan Byrne getting a hot hand in scoring 10 points in a row to lead the Cardinals with 25 in the game. Tim Perry hit his first basket late in the half to push the Cardinals to the century mark.

The Cardinals kept their turnovers to a minimum with only one in the second half to give them 12 in the game. Flo Valley had 18 turnovers.

Mineral Area, 18-9, will be at home on Saturday to play the Three Rivers Raiders at 7 p.m.

Mineral Area 52 57 - 109

Flo Valley 31 41 - 72

SCORING:

Mineral Area - R Byrne 25, A Jackson 20, T Wilkerson 13, D Hicks 11, C Muse 10, G Somerville 9, D Chillers 8, K Burke 4, T Britton 4, T Perry 3, J Jackson 2.

3-Pointers - R Byrne 3