Garfield freshman Mandy Cardinal, who is also a standout in volleyball and track (springs and long jump), is averaging 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game for the G-Men and is also the team-leader in blocked shots with 14.
Tom Nader/Portage Sports

By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Being identified as a player that blends in is not necessarily what anyone would seemingly want to hear.

For a freshman, though, it actually can come as a compliment.

At least, that is exactly how veteran Garfield girls basketball coach Aaron Gilbert meant it when talking about freshman Mandy Cardinal.

While Cardinal stepped onto the court this summer for the first time with the high-school program, Gilbert could see that the game was not too fast for her.

Cardinal was not overwhelmed.

In fact, quite the opposite.

“She didn’t just stand around and wait for things to happen or wait for someone to make something happen for her,” Gilbert said. “She knew what to do. She cut, she moved, she scored, she distributed. She blended right in.”

Suddenly, being a player that blended in was not all that bad.

Especially for a successful program that has not commonly elevated freshmen during Gilbert’s 16 years as coach.

The freshmen that have earned major varsity minutes have been dynamic players such as Grayson Rose, Grace Mills and Jenna Smith.

For Gilbert, seeing Cardinal compete in the summer shootout at Cedar Point in June made it easy to see the unique skill-sets that Cardinal had.

“It is one thing to play well against your peers and there is nothing wrong with that, but then the question becomes, how are you going to play against the girls that are two or three years older than you,” Gilbert said. “Mandy showed pretty early that she had a unique ability on the court and not just for herself, but she has a unique ability to make the players around her better. You can be a star and be a ball hog to get numbers, but Mandy is the type of player that makes the players around her stars, too.”

All of the evidence is there.

From a team standpoint, Garfield is 14-1 overall and 8-1 in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference. Impressive records for any group, and especially for a program that graduated four starters from a team that went 19-6 in 2021-22.

“There is something unique and something special about this year’s group,” Gilbert said.

Cardinal feels it, too.

“I think we have a special group because we have so much chemistry on and off the floor,” Cardinal said. “We are a very close group and that benefits us a lot.”

From an individual standpoint, Cardinal has offered balanced contributions across multiple statistical categories. If there is a stat that signifies helping her team win, Cardinal is going to be listed among the leaders.

The 6-foot freshman phenom, who is also a standout in volleyball and track (sprints and long jump), is averaging 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game for the G-Men and is also the team-leader in blocked shots with 14.

“Mandy does many things well, but I think it is her court vision that stands out the most,” Gilbert said. “She sees things that freshmen should not be able to make and that seniors can’t make.”

Unique, indeed.

It has simplified Garfield’s transition offense.

“We tell our girls that if they get to the spots they are supposed to get to, there is a good chance they are going to get the ball because Mandy is going to find you,” Gilbert said.

A couple of those benefactors have been seniors Laura McCoy and Madeline Shirkey, who are averaging 16.2 and 10.0 points per game, respectively, to establish a three-player core that has been a catalyst to the team’s success, alongside plenty of willing and hard working role players.

Players that can blend in to help the G-Men to victories.

Remember, though, blending in can be one step away from something bigger.

Just look at Mandy Cardinal.