Free throws help Cardinal Newman boys win rematch against Hammond

Cardinal Newman got its revenge over Hammond and stayed alive for a region title in the process.

Senior Chico Carter poured in 27 points and the Cardinals knocked down big free throws in the final two minutes to defeat the Skyhawks, 60-56, on Tuesday night.

With the win, Cardinal Newman (17-5, 4-1) trails Hammond (8-5, 5-1) by a half game in the SCISA 2-3A standings. The teams split the two games this season with the Skyhawks winning 45-43 on a Jordan Burch jumper with less than five seconds left Jan. 12.

“You are talking about two great teams,” Cardinal Newman coach Phillip Deter said. “They come in well-prepared every game. You may get up by a certain amount of points but you know it is going to be close. We told them keep attacking the rim, win the loose balls and hopefully at the end of the game make free throws.”

The Cardinals made their free throws especially at the end of the game. Cardinal Newman was 12-of-13 from the line in the fourth quarter and 17-of-19 overall.

Neither team led by more than five points in the fourth quarter. Hammond, which trailed by 11 at halftime, took its first lead of the game when Josh Lipsitz hit a 3-pointer to put the Skyhawks up 52-51 with 1:41 left.

Carter answered for Cardinal Newman on the next possession with a pair of free throws to put the Cards up 53-52 with 1:35 left.

CN’s lead was 57-56 with 10 seconds left when sophomore Joshua Beadle hit two free throws. Hammond had a chance to tie it or cut within one on its next possession but Trent Green missed a layup while trying to draw contact. LJ White hit one free throw to seal it.

“We just had to come together as a team at the end and get one stop, seal the rebound and hit free throws down the stretch,” Carter said. “In practice, we got up a lot of free throws because we knew there would be lot of foul calls because we were trying to get to the lane. We executed at the line and it came out in our favor.”

Lipsitz hit five 3-pointers and led the Skyhawks with 20 points. Green had 18, including a pair of dunks in the second half in Hammond’s comeback bid. Jordan Burch added 11 as Clemson and South Carolina football coaches where to see the two-sport star.

Beadle had 11 and Bryce Earle 10 for Cardinal Newman, which hosts First Baptist on Friday in an important nonregion game.

Hammond hosts Heathwood Hall on Friday.

In the girls game, Audrey Myers had 20 points and Ashlyn Watkins 16 as the Cardinals overcame a slow start to defeat the Skyhawks, 61-45, and remain in first place in the region.

CN: Chico Carter, Jr. 27, Joshua Beadle 11, Bryce Earle 10, Tyler 5, Flemming 3, Tucker 3, White 1. H: Josh Lipsitz 20, Trent Green 18, Jordan Burch 11, Canty 4, Toman 3

Girls

Cardinal Newman 61, Hammond 45



CN: Audrey Meyers 22, Ashlyn Watkins 16, Kennedy 9, Boyer 8, Dayhuff 2, Etter 2, Laubacker 2. H: Lauren Scott 22, Tyra Myers 16, Pinasco 5, McQueen 2

This story was originally published January 29, 2019 at 10:53 PM.