Four in a row! Cardinal Newman extends impressive state championship streak
Cardinal Newman girls basketball coach Asia Dozier summed up Ashlyn Watkins’ season in one word — dominant.
The Cardinal Newman senior and University of South Carolina signee delivered another dominant performance in her final high school game Saturday. Watkins scored 26 points in helping the Cardinals past First Baptist 54-44 in the SCISA Class 3A championship game at the Sumter Civic Center.
“It is the right ending to her story for her high school career. She didn’t want to end it any other way,” said Dozier, a former South Carolina standout who has been head coach at Cardinal Newman the past two seasons. “I don’t know who else I can compare her to. Don’t know too many players who have been able to do what she has been able to do.
“She can seem as kind of a nonchalant player, but there is no question whether she wants to win or not. Hats off to her, her family, trainers anyone that has been able to work with her throughout her career.”
It was Cardinal Newman’s fourth straight title and fifth straight appearance with Watkins — a starter since the eighth grade — on the roster for all of those seasons. Before Watkins’ arrival, Cardinal Newman hadn’t won a championship in girls basketball.
Individually, Watkins has developed into one of the best players in the country, earning McDonald’s All-American honors and a No. 12 national ranking by ESPN HoopGurlz.
This year, more was expected on Watkins and the other starters, as the roster included just eight players and was down to seven after starting guard Tanaja Kennedy suffered a leg injury in January. Kennedy was in uniform Saturday but didn’t play.
The small roster was put to the test as Cardinal Newman had 16 hours between its semifinal win Friday and Saturday’s championship game. Watkins admitted she was worn down by the end of the game as grabbed a Gatorade bottle from the bench shortly after the buzzer sounded.
“I’m very exhausted, to be honest, but I had to push through to help my teammates,” Watkins said. “It really hasn’t sunk in yet to win four championships. I have to get all the credit to my team.”
This was the second meeting this month between the two schools. Cardinal Newman won 60-29 on Feb. 8, but the Hurricanes were down several key players.
The Cardinals led 14-6 in the second quarter Saturday before First Baptist rallied to get within 17-15. Watkins scored six straight points near the end of the second quarter to put Cardinal Newman up 23-15.
First Baptist got to within 25-24 in the third quarter, but the Cards answered with a 12-4 run to end the third quarter. Lauren Jacobs’ 3-pointer put Cardinal Newman up 37-28 headed to the fourth quarter.
Jacobs, a freshman who came off the bench last season, finished with 14 points and gave the Cards someone to complement Watkins on the offensive end.
“Everyone was working hard and we pulled through to the end,” Watkins said.
FB: Lexi Grant 18, Spann 6, Wysong 11, Serberry 9. CN: Ashlyn Watkins 26, Lauren Jacobs 14, Monsanto 9, Wilkinson 5
This story was originally published February 26, 2022 at 4:49 PM.
