SANTA ROSA, CALIF. – Slow start, off night shooting? No problem after host Cardinal Newman shook off some early adversity and now moves on the CIF North Coast Section Open Division semifinals after a somewhat convincing 59-42 Thursday night quarterfinal win over Heritage-Brentwood.
The outside shooting has been a staple of the Cardinal Newman offense all season, but early on against Heritage the shots were just not falling
In fact, No. 3 seeded Cardinal Newman (26-3) missed its first 12 three-point shots, but once they found their rhythm they overcame the ice cold early shooting and will now meet No. 2 seed San Ramon Valley next Wednesday in Danville to see who advances to the NCS Open Division title game.
“The positive from this game is we didn’t shoot the ball very well but we still won,” remarked Cardinal Newman head coach Monica Mertle. “Perimeter shooting is part of our game so we had to be able to do other things and win in other ways.”
“At the end of the day it’s the end result we’re looking at and not how pretty it was or how well we shot,” Mertle continued. “We got the end result we wanted.”
An ugly first quarter saw the teams tied at 6-6, and it was 10-10 early in the second quarter, but that’s when Kaida Angelo came alive. The junior transfer from Mt. Eden-Hayward got a steal and a layup, and then followed with the Cardinals’ first three-pointer on a shot from well beyond the arc with 4:50 left before halftime to give Newman a 15-10 lead.
Two Heritage free-throws were followed by another three-pointer by Angelo, sophomore star Kate Schat followed with back-to-back three-pointers, and then senior Abbie Mullins hit three three-pointers sandwiched around a Heritage basket. All of a sudden Cardinal Newman had a 23-4 run on five straight three-pointers and seven of eight from outside the arc in the second quarter to close out the half with a 33-14 lead.
In the end Cardinal Newman was 12 of 33 on three-pointers, which isn’t that terribly bad, but it was the second quarter defense and in large part the energy of Angelo that allowed the Cardinals to outscore Heritage 27-8 after the first quarter and turn the tables on the Patriots.
“Whether it’s on defense or offense we’re all playing together, so when someone is off we try to uplift them,” said Angelo. “I try to give 110-percent all the time even if I’m having an off game.”
“I had to take that leadership and give it my all in the beginning to spark the rest of us,” continued Angelo. “Whether its defense, stealing the ball, blocking out or rebounding. In games like this I try to focus on defense because defense wins games.”
Angelo finished with 16 points (two three-pointers), six rebounds and six steals, with 14 of the points, both of the treys and four of the steals coming in the first half.
“Kaida had a great game. She brings a lot of versatility for us,” Mertle said. “She’s getting better and better each game as she’s getting more comfortable. She’s been doing a fantastic job”
Mullins, who had nine three-pointers for Cal-Hi Sports No. 15 ranked Cardinal Newman in a win over No. 18 Antelope at the St. Mary’s MLK Showcase in January in Stockton, made five from beyond the arc against Heritage and finished with a game-high 19 points plus three steals. Schat converted three three-pointers and added 13 points and four assists.
The largest lead of the game was 19 points at the half and 39-20 midway through the third quarter, but Heritage, led by 6-4 UCLA-bound McDonald’s All-American Amanda Muse did not totally fold and went on a 8-1 run of its own to cut the deficit to 40-28 entering the final period.
When Heritage junior Kendall McClure hit a three-pointer with around two minutes left, the Patriots had it down to 52-40 but Newman answered with a three-pointer by junior Janelle Pena, Angelo and Mullins each converted both ends of a one-on-one with Heritage forced to foul, and all the Patriots could muster down the stretch was a basket by Muse.
Muse led Heritage with a double-double 10 points and 10 rebounds with two blocks. McClure and junior Grace Hernandez each made two three-pointers and also finished with 10 points apiece.
Heritage (22-5) now meets Acalanes in the fifth-place game next Wednesday in Lafayette.
Meanwhile, the hopes for an NCS Open Division championship are still alive for Cardinal Newman but first they must get past a tough San Ramon Valley team that is difficult to beat at home.
“San Ramon Valley is a great team,” Mertle said. “We know they’re going to play hard. We know they like to play at home, so we’re looking forward to getting this game.”
“Any game we can get in the Open Division is an honor,” Mertle said in conclusion. “We’re happy to still be in it with a chance to get to the title game.”
