Cardinal Newman enjoys double success in North Bay League basketball tournaments

Cardinal Newman used an 18-2 run in the first quarter as a springboard to a 64-53 victory against Montgomery on Friday night in the championship game of the North Bay League postseason tournament at SRJC.

“That was as good as we have played all year,” Cardinal Newman coach Tom Bonfigli said. “It was an unbelievable atmosphere. There was a tremendous crowd on both sides.”

Cardinal Newman (25-3) led 33-16 at halftime and 44-32 after three quarters before winning the fourth quarter 21-20.

“We played really well on both sides of the ball. We kept our composure tonight,” Bonfigli said. “I always admire how hard Montgomery plays.”

The Cardinals won the NBL regular-season title as well and should be a high seed in the upcoming NCS Division 2 playoffs. Montgomery (22-6) will likely be a middle to high seed.

“We belong up there, definitely deserving of a No. 3 seed,” Bonfigli said. “To win the league, be the NBL tournament champ and win 25 games this season is very unusual.”

Cardinal Newman was led by Christian Hextrum (16 points, 5 rebounds), Damian Wallace (12 points), Cody Baker (12 points) and Jalen Dural (10 points, 12 rebounds).

Montgomery was paced by Alex Soria with 20 points (18 in the second half) and Riley O'Neil with 12 points.

The teams split the two regular-season matchups, with Cardinal Newman victorious 51-41 in the first meeting and Montgomery winning the second meeting 48-47.

“We played better than Montgomery did this time but both teams played really hard,” Bonfigli said. “We played remarkably consistent all year.”

In the NBL girls championship game:

CARDINAL NEWMAN 58, SANTA ROSA 27

The defending state champion Cardinals won their fourth consecutive NBL postseason tournament earlier Friday night at SRJC, the perfect cap to their fourth consecutive regular-season title that they just wrapped up with a league record of 14-0.

Cardinal Newman (25-3) had an easy time of it from the start, breaking out to a 31-7 lead at halftime.

The Cardinals were led by center Lauren Walker, who scored 16 points (7-7 shooting), hauled down seven rebounds and had three blocks.

“In the second half we tried to get the ball inside to Lauren. She was very efficient,” Cardinal Newman coach Monica Mertle said. “We didn't shoot the ball particularly well tonight but we played excellent defense, especially in the first half.”

The Cardinals defeated Santa Rosa (13-15) three times this season, including the first two games in the regular season (75-23 and 74-22).

Mertle said her freshman class from four years ago achieved its goal of winning four consecutive league titles and four consecutive NBL tournaments. Mertle said she is hoping Cardinal Newman will garner a No. 1 seed in the NCS Division 4 playoffs and is hoping to repeat as state champions.

In addition to Walker's gaudy numbers, Avery Cargill had 12 points and Anya Choice had 10 points for the Cardinals.

The Panthers were led by Princess Tufele with 12 points.