Cardinals lose heartbreakers to Barons
~December 7, 2007~
By George Kaupp

Photos by Jim Marczesky Cardinal Newman's Michael Littlejohn goes for the jump shot in traffic.

Cardinal Newman battled Wilson Hall in varsity basketball last Friday night. aThe Cardinals had a chance to win both games, but the Barons found a way to squeak by the Cardinals. The Lady Barons won, 39- 37, while the varsity boys won, 46- 45.

In the girls' opener, Wilson Hall led most of the game, but never had a comfortable lead. The largest lead was 10, and the plucky Cardinals methodically came back, finally tying the game in the last minute on a lay up by junior Tori August. However, Ann Bynum of the Lady Barons was fouled with 10 seconds to go and made both free throws to give Wilson Hall back the lead. The Cardinals were not able to get a final shot off due to good defense by the Lady Barons. Bynum led the Lady Barons (4- 2) with 12 points, while August led the Lady Cardinals (3- 4) with 13.

In the nightcap, the Cardinal Newman boys jumped out to a 14- 2 lead on the strength of good defense, hustle, and easy lay ups. Wilson Hall edged closer in the first half, and at halftime, the Cardinals led, 32- 23.

Cardinal Newman's Tori August shoots over a Wilson Hall defender.

The defense and hustle, however, seemed to catch up to the Cardinals in the second half, as they seemed more winded than the Barons- that, and Chad Brading heated up for Wilson Hall. He scored 17 of his game- high 23 points in the second half, and when George Jones hit two free throws with 1:28 to go, the score was tied at 44.

A dubious five- second violation was called against the Cardinals, turning the ball over to the Barons. After securing an offensive rebound, senior Davis Boyle hit a lay up with 24 seconds remaining to give Wilson Hall the lead.

The Cardinals took the ball down the court, and Michael Littlejohn was fouled with 10 seconds left. But the senior, who led the Cardinals with 19 points, could only hit one of two free throws, and the Cardinals were forced to foul. The Barons missed both free throws, but the Cardinals, as their female counterparts had done, could not get off a final shot before the buzzer.

Wilson Hall rose to 2- 3 in the season, while the Cardinals fell to 3- 2.