SCISA 4A Championship: Cardinal Newman vs. Augusta Christian

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lately, when it has come to Cardinal Newman and state championships, we have come accustomed to seeing the Cardinals' girls and boys teams be in position to bring home state championship hardware. While the girls had a rebuilding year, all was fine on the boys side of the ledger.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals' opponent in the 4A state title game to close out championship Saturday – and the 2022-23 SCISA season was Augusta Christian – who were last season's 3A SCISA titleholders.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions' back-to-back effort was indeed successful as Augusta Christian defeated Cardinal Newman with the final score reading a hard-fought, down-to-the-wire 47-44.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the season comes to a close, Augusta Christian finishes said 2022-23 with a 27-5 mark. Cardinal Newman concludes 2022-23 with a 19-16 showing.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>What Happened Last Time?</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals and Lions split the two matchups they played this season as region rivals. Both won their games on the other's home floor. Cardinal Newman got in the win column by a tally of 57-45 in Martinez, Georgia but the Lions won by a final of 71-60 at the Cardinals' nest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter by Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One could imagine how a game between these two teams would unfold and believe it would be a back-and-forth affair. The opening quarter of Cardinals vs. Lions was just that as the two teams battled each other to a 9-9 stalemate as the first eight minutes elapsed.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quarter number two was also hard-fought and very up-tempo, but Augusta Christian managed to be six points better than Cardinal Newman in those eight minutes. The Lions went into halftime leading 28-22.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a tightly contested championship game, one can expect the play to not only be fast-paced, but also physical. Augusta Christian vs. Cardinal Newman was certainly that, but it was the Lions who had the lead – 37-33 – with one frame to remain for the game and for SCISA championship Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every basket and possession was precious as this one came down to the final seconds. Augusta Christian led 45-44 before a pair of clutch free throws extended the lead to three at 47-44. The Cardinals' ensuing tying 3-point attempt was no good and the Lions were the final team to depart from Sumter as champions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1818834,"width":386,"height":252,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_5989-2-crop-2957x1941-1677398236.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_5989-2-crop-2957x1941-1677398236.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1818834" width="386" height="252" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218929' first='DJ' last='Shine']</strong> concluded his season with a 13-point performance. Along with being efficient all game long from midrange, he had the two free throws late in the fourth quarter that increased the Lions' late lead to three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1818840,"width":380,"height":248,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6026-crop-2141x1406-1677398563.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6026-crop-2141x1406-1677398563.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1818840" width="380" height="248" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1300788' first='Braylen' last='Smith']</strong> contributed 11 points to the Augusta Christian championship-winning cause. Smith managed to stay out of foul trouble as he only had two personals whistled against him for the game. He was accurate from behind the 3-point arc with a trio of treys. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1818842,"width":391,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6024-crop-2509x1647-1677398663.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6024-crop-2509x1647-1677398663.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1818842" width="391" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 14 points, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1383660' first='Elton' last='Smith'], Jr.</strong> led the scoring charge for the Cardinals. The 6-foot-7 freshman forward made plenty of plays in the interior and also threw down a dunk in the fourth quarter. Combine that with his rebounding and he is a double-double threat on a game-by-game basis. Smith works for everything he gets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1818844,"width":391,"height":256,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_5963-crop-3805x2498-1677398834.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_5963-crop-3805x2498-1677398834.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1818844" width="391" height="256" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1160754' first='Josiah' last='Peeples']</strong> finished the evening with eight points. He is a 6-foot-3 junior who can primarily operate at either of the two guard positions. Peeples possesses superb ball handling skills along with knowing when to pass and when to score – and a good bit of that scoring occurs via attacking the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals are graduating three seniors from this season's rendition – <strong>Michael Leonard</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1063832' first='Jordan' last='Frazer']</strong> and <strong>Nic Doctor</strong>. As for the Lions, they will graduate <strong>Jon Smith</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1345918' first='Luke' last='Wilson']</strong> and <strong>A.J. Binns</strong>. Senior Day 2024 at Augusta Christian will be a memorable one as this year's team has nine juniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>All-Tournament Team</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1818851,"width":373,"height":244,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6151-crop-3226x2118-1677399163.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6151-crop-3226x2118-1677399163.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1818851" width="373" height="244" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1218929' first='DJ' last='Shine'] </strong>– Augusta Christian</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1223258' first='Khaleel' last='Pratt']</strong> – Augusta Christian</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1063832' first='Jordan' last='Frazer']</strong> – Cardinal Newman</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1383660' first='Elton' last='Smith']</strong> – Cardinal Newman </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='865305' first='Matty' last='Foor']</strong> – First Baptist</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1340380' first='Amari' last='Evans']</strong> - Hammond</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->