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After two convincing victories to begin the 2022-23 season, the #1-ranked GRC Cardinals undoubtedly faced their biggest challenge thus far on Tuesday night at GRC Arena when #14-ranked Madison Central came to town.

Their 33-game winning streak was in jeopardy as they trailed to start the fourth quarter.

However, the Cards rallied for 28 points on their way to a 76-67 victory over the Indians.

“We knew Central was a great team, but we knew we had to get the win somehow,” said senior guard Sam Parrish. “You just have to grind it out.”

The Cards started on fire from the three-point line, hitting five shots from beyond the arc in the opening period to build a 19-12 lead. Three of the five three-point shots came from junior Reshaun Hampton, who continues to make a name for himself as a reliable three-point option.

The second quarter was a familiar tale.

A stout defense limited the Indians to 26 points as the Cards took a 35-26 lead into halftime.

However, the Cards would hit a snag to begin the third quarter.

Led by Jaylen Davis’ 23 points – 20 of them coming in the second half – Madison Central rallied to take a 49-46 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Yet it was at the start of the last period that the momentum seemed to shift.

Defense from the duo of Jerone Morton and Reshaun Hampton led to a turnover, with Morton bringing the Cards to within one following a thunderous dunk.

Presumably feeling that his player had been fouled, one of the Madison Central mounted a stern protest. The referees called a technical foul, giving the Cards a pair of free throws followed by an offensive possession.

Before long, the Cards had recaptured the lead and built it to a 7-point advantage with just three minutes remaining.

On defense, they kept Madison Central from scoring a field goal until more than halfway through the fourth quarter.

Though Madison Central would narrow the lead to four at one point, the Cards held on and – thanks largely to converting 14 free throws over the final two periods – came out with the victory.

Jerone Morton, who was presented with a game ball honoring his 2,000th career point scored last Friday against Campbell County, led GRC with 23 points.

Yet it was another star GRC player’s night to remember.

Midway through the third quarter, guard Sam Parrish scored his 1,000th career point after a drive to the lane and layup.

He finished the night with 9 points and made a key steal on one of Madison Central’s last offensive drives with just over one minute remaining in the contest.

“It means [a lot], but the win means more,” Parrish said. “I’m glad I got 1,000 points. Thanks to my teammates, my coaches, and all the fans that came to the game.”

Parrish and Morton weren’t the only two Cards to find the scoreboard.

Hampton finished with 14 points, Tyleik Maxwell added ten, and Trent Edwards scored 18 after not playing the previous game while recovering from a sprained ankle.

“I think our whole starting five draws a lot of attention. They can all shoot. They can all drive,” Parrish added. “They’re all capable of getting [points] night in and night out, so that just opens up for everybody to fill it up.”

The Cards continue their season with a Thursday contest at Pendleton County, followed by a 3:00 p.m. matchup on Saturday at Boyd County High School against defending 16th Region Champion Ashland Blazer High School.