If the old expression "there is always next year" ever applied to any team it would be the Lindsay Cardinals.
Sure they lost to Garces 51-42 in the first round of the Division IV playoffs on Tuesday last week, but they have a lot to look forward to.
After coaching a young group of players to a 9-15 record last year they improved six games this year with a 14-9 record. And they return almost the entire starting squad with the exception of point guard Raquel Chairez.
"Next year will be exciting." Lindsay coach Pete Lindstrand said. "I have had these girls for two years now and it's going to be a totally different league next year."
Perhaps filling Raquel's shoes will be her sister Valerie who came of the bench most of the season, providing added defensive pressure.
In the team's season ending loss to Garces they showed glimpses of a team ready to excel in the playoffs.
The Cardinals Nikki Salinas led Lindsay with 24 points and Raquel Chairez in her final game scored 11 points.
"Overall I was pleased with the way our girls played," Lindstrand said. "They played hard the whole game, we just went cold in the third and fourth quarters."
Perhaps a sign of what is to come, Carina Gutierrez and Nicole Shaw stepped in for Salinas and Nichole Schiro who were in foul trouble. The two helped keep the game in reach with solid play.
"They did some nice things," Lindstrand said. "I was really pleased with what I saw."
