If there was a pattern to the Brett Callan Memorial Tournament championship game between Cardinal Newman and Washington of San Francisco it would be that there wasn’t much of a pattern.   It did have one thing that you want in a tournament championship game and that is suspense down the stretch.  With the game on the line, Cardinal Newman did what Cardinal Newman does and made the plays to pulled off a 68-64 overtime win.
The pattern of the game was established early.  There were 44 fouls called in the game and even though the fouls were fairly even, the calls favored Cardinal Newman for a couple of reasons.  One was they took advantage at the free throw line hitting 18 of 24, while Washington went 14 of 22.
Another reason it leaned Cardinal Newman’s way, that the main victim in the foul fest was Washington’s Ernest Moore. The 6’ 8” center, who would be named to the All-Tourney team, was called for three fouls in the first three minute.  He barely played half the game before fouling out in the fourth quarter.  He didn’t exactly get his money’s worth on the fouls either.
Both teams had to fight through things.  Cardinal Newman took advantage of the foul situation in the first half.  Led by the player of the tourney Connor Rubattino, they went on a 12-3 run in the last three minutes of the first half to take a 34-23 halftime lead.  Rubattino scored 17 of his game high 26 in the first half, including a bank shot three as he was fouled, which turned into a four point play with 1:23 left.  It was one of his four first half three pointers.
In the third quarter, Washington played like they had most of the first two games. Armini Hall led the charge scoring nine of his team high 18 points to cut the lead to 38-36, with 2:20 left.

Cardinal Newman regained its footing with a 7-2 run in the fourth quarter to take a 51-44 lead.  Washington looked like they made a run that would get them the championship.  The Eagles scored 13 straight, part of it hitting five of six free throws, to take a 57-51 lead with 2:20 to go.
But Cardinal Newman responded.  A seven point run gave them a 58-57 lead with :53.4 left.  James Ryan scored five of the points.  Two of them on free throws after the fifth foul on Moore and the other on an old fashion three point play, which gave the Cardinal’s the lead.
Hall hit one of two free throws with :31.7 left to tie the game and Cardinal Newman played for one shot, which was missed and the game went into overtime.
Cardinal Newman scored the first four points of the OT and didn’t trail.  The big basket was a return shot by Justin Botteri with :36 left to make it 66-62.  It was the last of 14 points for Botteri, who was named to the All-Tourney team. Washington was called for an offensive foul on the next possession and that turned out to be enough for the Cardinals.
The win gives Cardinal Newman a 7-0 record, which is their best start since the 2008-09 season.  They would have to go awhile to match that streak.  They lost their first game that season to Piner in the NBL post season tournament championship game going into that game with a 26-0 record.
It is getting close to league play and Cardinal Newman will jump right into the league play with a trip to Montgomery. Before that they have four games, a trip to Justin Siena next Wednesday, which will be followed by the Sonoma County Classic at Piner which begins on December 29th.
NINTH ANNUAL BRETT CALLEN TOURNAMENT AT A GLANCE
THURSDAY RESULTS
GAME 1—Windsor 61 Petaluma 39
GAME 2—Cardinal Newman 68 Fairfield 54
GAME 3—Washington (SF) 70 Miramonte 47
GAME 4—Casa Grande 60 Analy 55
FRIDAY RESULTS
GAME 5—Fairfield 70 Petaluma 55
GAME 6—Miramonte 61 Analy 53
GAME 7—Cardinal Newman 57 Windsor 46
GAME 8—Washington (SF) 51 Casa Grande 36
SATURDAY RESULTS
Seventh place…Analy 70 Petaluma 52
Consolation…Fairfield 60 Miramonte 43
Third place…Windsor 51 Casa Grande 43
Championship…Cardinal Newman 68 Washington (SF) 64 (OT)
MVP
Connor Rubattino (Cardinal Newman)
ALL TOURNEY TEAM
James Ryan (Cardinal Newman)
Justin Botteri (Cardinal Newman)
Armani Hall (Washington SF)
Darren Ho (WashingtonSF)
Ernest Moore (Washington SF)
Gabe Knight (Windsor)
Brent Tucker (Windsor)
Jon Cristy (Casa Grande)
Anthony Bryant (Fairfield)
Jason Wegner (Miramonte)
Malcolm Jenkins (Analy)
My email address is jacpasquini@comcast.net