Shaw gets 1,000th point, but Skyhawks get the win
Photos and Story
By Mike Maddock
Mike@TheColumbiaStar.com

Cardinal Newman junior Jaime Shaw is guarded by Hammond's Niki Hamilton. Shaw scored the 1,000th point of her career at the 6:39 mark of the third period. She finished with a game- high 18 points. Hamilton netted 10 points for the Lady Skyhawks.

The Cardinal Newman Lady Cardinals invaded Hammond Tuesday, Jan. 30 and early on looked very much like the team that had compiled a 17- 1 overall record and 5- 0 league record.

They jumped out to a 10- 2 lead over the Lady Skyhawks before Hammond coach Charles McCallister called a timeout to stop the bleeding. The timeout appeared to only temporarily slow the Lady Cardinals as Jamie Shaw's jumper and eighth point of the period put Cardinal Newman up 12- 2, but the Lady Skyhawks rattled off eight unanswered points. Then they outscored Cardinal Newman 37- 24 over the final 25 minutes to upset the Lady Cardinals 47- 36.

Ali Hymson was the spark plug for the Skyhawks sinking three three- pointers in the first half, the second of which gave Hammond its first lead of the game at 19- 18. Hymson was aided by the aggressive play of Niki Hamilton who scored ten points and consistently drove into the heart of the Cardinal Newman defense drawing fouls and scoring timely baskets. The Lady Skyhawks also got a surprise boost off the bench from eighth grader Elaine Epting. She towered above everyone and scored four points to help Hammond claw back into the game in the first half.

Hammond's Callie Peele battles Cardinal Newman's Tori August for the rebound. Peele got eight points for the Lady Skyhawks all in the second half. August had two points for the Lady Cardinals.

Lauren Smith continued her steady play this season scoring 10 points for the Lady Skyhawks. When Tori August's basket with 1:41 remaining cut the Skyhawk lead to 40- 36, Smith responded by sinking five of six straight free throws to put the game out of reach.

Shaw led the Lady Cardinals with 18 points, 14 of which came in the first half. She was shut- out in the fourth period, but did get the 1,000th point of her career at the 6:39 mark of the third period. Meredith Sexton added nine points and Beth Eckstein had six for Cardinal Newman. The Lady Cardinals were without the services of starting center Shyainne Oakman who was sick.

The Lady Skyhawks improve to 11- 11 (4- 2) and will host Ben Lippen Friday, Feb. 2. The Lady Cardinals drop to 17- 2 (5- 1), but are still atop SCISA Region II-AAA. They travel to Greenville to face St. Joseph next.

Cardinal Newman: Jaime Shaw 18, Merdith Sexton 9, Beth Eckstein 6, Tori August 2, Kelly Zander 1

Hammond: Ali Hymson 13, Lauren Smith 10, Callie Peele 8, Niki Hamilton 10, Elaine Epting 4, Kaki Smith 2