Shaw leads Lady Cardinals to title
Hammond 34
Cardinal Newman 45
Photos and Story
By Mike Maddock
Mike@TheColumbiaStar.com

Cardinal Newman's Jaime Shaw drives past Hammond's Niki Hamilton. Shaw finished with 23 points and was named both tournament and regular season MVP for SCISA Region 2- 3A.

The Cardinal Newman Lady Cardinals jumped out to an 11- 2 lead over the Hammond Lady Skyhawks Tuesday, Feb. 20 at Heathwood Hall in the SCISA Region 2- 3A tournament championship game and never looked back en route to a 45- 34 victory.

Tournament and regular season MVP Jaime Shaw led the Lady Cardinals with 23 points. Shyainne Oakman added 10 points for Cardinal Newman and blocked seven shots in the second half alone. Sam August scored four and Chandler King added four free throws down the stretch.

Hammond sharp shooter Ali Hymson missed her first three shots, but her basket in the second period pulled the Skyhawks within two points at 15- 13. That was as close as the Skyhawks would get though.

Hymson sank two three pointers and finished with 12 points. Lauren Smith scored six of her 11 points in the final period, but by then the game was out of reach.

Both teams will move on to the SCISA state championship tournament beginning Feb. 23.

CN's Shyainne Oakman shoots over Hammond's Callie Peele. Oakman had seven blocks in the second half.

Cardinal Newman head coach Larry DiBiase was named the Region 2- 3A coach of the year.

Hammond (16- 13, 9- 4): Ali Hymson 12, Lauren Smith 11, Rossi Theodore 4, Niki Hamilton 3, Mason Castles 3, Callie Peele 1.

Cardinal Newman (23- 3, 11- 2): Jaime Shaw 23, Shyainne Oakman 10, Sam August 4, Chandler King 4, Beth Eckstein 2, Tori August 2.