SCISA 4A Championship: Augusta Christian vs. Cardinal Newman

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The more things change, the more they apparently stay the same. Or do they?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season was when SCISA first introduced the 4A classification. Two of those teams that went from 3A to 4A were Cardinal Newman and Augusta Christian.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams met in last year's championship game with the Lions eking out a 47-44 victory over the Cardinals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As was also the case last season, both Augusta Christian and Cardinal Newman earned byes to the quarterfinals. The two victories the Cardinals earned were over Trinity Collegiate and Hammond while those of the Lions were at the expense of Wilson Hall and Heathwood Hall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rematch would go the way of the Cardinals as they claimed this year's 4A state championship with a 71-61 prevailing over the Lions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things began auspiciously for Augusta Christian as they went on a 10-2 scoring binge. Cardinal Newman responded to ensure things did not get too out of hand. At the conclusion of one period, the Lions had a 20-15 lead on the Cardinals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Where the first quarter may have been advantage Lions, the second was advantage Cardinals. As both teams entered their respective locker rooms to discuss second half strategy, Cardinal Newman had a five-point, 33-28 advantage over their adversaries from Augusta Christian.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third was advantage Cardinals as well – so much to the point that Cardinal Newman's lead ballooned into the double-digits. A state championship was in sight for the team representing the Palmetto State as their lead was 55-41 with eight minutes left to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Augusta Christian attempted a miraculous comeback but Cardinal Newman managed to hold off the Lions late. The last time a Cardinals basketball team was victorious in Sumter was in 2022 when the girls state champions were led by a young Ashlyn Watkins. In 2024, this year's Cardinals avenged last season's defeat and prevented a third consecutive Augusta Christian state championship in the process.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2359021,"width":"446px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3162-crop-2236x1469-1708788489.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3162-crop-2236x1469-1708788489.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359021" style="width:446px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals got 24 points from their junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1220039' first='Amarii' last='King']</strong>. He displayed superb ball handling capabilities from start to finish and displayed the toughness that has also made him a football standout. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2359023,"width":"445px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_2983-crop-2236x1469-1708788614.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_2983-crop-2236x1469-1708788614.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359023" style="width:445px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1340384' first='Evan' last='Carter']</strong> did everything he could to ensure his final game sporting the Cardinal Newman uniform was a triumphant one. He contributed 23 points in what was a winning Cardinals performance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2359025,"width":"447px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3061-crop-2236x1469-1708788711.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3061-crop-2236x1469-1708788711.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359025" style="width:447px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cardinal Newman also got healthy production off of its bench in the form of freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2147147' first='Luis' last='Echevarria']</strong>. He added 12 points to the Cardinals total. Echevarria thrives in the Cardinal Newman backcourt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2359028,"width":"445px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3096-crop-2307x1515-1708788844.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3096-crop-2307x1515-1708788844.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359028" style="width:445px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading all point-getters for the Lions was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1223258' first='Khaleel' last='Pratt']</strong> who finished with 23 points in what was his final game in an Augusta Christian uniform. The senior excels as either a shooting guard or as a small forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2359034,"width":"443px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3202-2-crop-3095x2032-1708788944.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3202-2-crop-3095x2032-1708788944.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359034" style="width:443px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another senior, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1300788' first='Braylen' last='Smith']</strong>, also had an impressive individual performance to round out his Lions career. Smith added 14 points. He primarily plays at the one and has no problems absorbing contact to get to the free throw line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2359036,"width":"445px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3205-2-crop-2236x1469-1708789055.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3205-2-crop-2236x1469-1708789055.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359036" style="width:445px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1383040' first='Aamere' last='Tolbert']</strong> is a junior and he was another of the double-digit point-getters for the Lions with 10 points. Tolbert only had two made attempts from the field but gave Augusta Christian a boost from the free throw line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cardinal Newman concludes its 2023-24 with a 21-15 record. Augusta Christian finishes with a mark of 23-8.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1340384' first='Evan' last='Carter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1160754' first='Josiah' last='Peeples'] are the two 2024s on this year's Cardinals roster. [player_tooltip player_id='1223258' first='Khaleel' last='Pratt'], [player_tooltip player_id='1300788' first='Braylen' last='Smith'], Troy Booker, Shelby Hughes and Andrew Bell share that honor for the Lions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>All-Tournament Team </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2359038,"width":"484px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3269-crop-3311x2174-1708789247.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3269-crop-3311x2174-1708789247.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359038" style="width:484px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1220039' first='Amarii' last='King'] – Cardinal Newman</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1340384' first='Evan' last='Carter'] – Cardinal Newman</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1223258' first='Khaleel' last='Pratt'] – Augusta Christian</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Troy Booker Jr – Augusta Christian</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1692417' first='Kamauri' last='Hunter'] – Heathwood Hall</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1340386' first='Mike' last='Tyler'] - Hammond</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->