A lot has changed in high school basketball in recent years. Of course in 2011 we had the league realignment that sent Casa Grande and Windsor to the NBL and Elsie Allen and Piner to the SCL. We’ve seen Windsor rise to the top in that league, we’ve also seen the fall of Casa Grande. In the SCL, we have seen the rise of Petaluma back to the top for the first time in 24 years.
We’ve never seen a local team play in the open division in basketball, and probably no program that’s been in session for just 6 years has gone to the top that fast. The Cardinal Newman girls basketball team just keeps making history. Last year it was the D4 State Championship, this year it’s their first NCS Championship and a trip to the open division. They then proceeded to upset Carondelet, the sister school to De La Salle, in the opening round of the state tourney, as a 7 seed. Avery Cargill hit a driving shot with 9 seconds left to propel the Cardinals to victory. Hailey Vice Neat and Cargill each chipped in 10 points, while Tal Webb led Newman with 11 points. The Cardinals will take on Pinewood on the road Tuesday night at 7pm.
The boys for Newman were in shock when they received a State Tourney bid. They thought their season ended with a home loss to Tamalpais. They now continue to play deep into the postseason. Cardinal Newman’s boys, the 15 seed pulled off an upset Wednesday night over 2 seeded Whitney 57-55 on the road. By multiple counts, it’s the first time ever in CIF State Tournament play that a 15 seed has beat a 2 seed in the playoffs. They then pulled off another upset win over Serra last night 68-56. In that game, Damian Wallace had 29 points on 10 of 19 shooting, and Brad Morato added 16 points off the bench for Newman. Cardinal Newman will travel to Hayward to take on Demari Milstead, Kyree Walker and the Moreau Catholic Mariners. Moreau Catholic has played another local team, that was Petaluma in an opening round of NCS play in which the Mariners won 83-43. Newman will Have to shoot the ball well in order to stay in the game.

Rincon Valley’s girls season game to an end after a 41-34 loss to Loyalton. Caroline Chambers scored 20 points for the Eagles, but fouled out early in the fourth quarter which spelled doom for the Lady Eagles. They held Loyalton to their season low of 41 points in a very physical contest. RVC finishes 24-8 on the season.