Newman outlasts Carondelet

Winning a state title last year was thrilling, said Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa coach Monica Mertle. But beating second-seeded Carondelet-Concord on the road Friday night in an opening-round CIF State Open Division game was even more exhilarating.

Avery Cargill made a layup with eight seconds left after a nice feed from Boise Statebound Hailey Vice-Neat to lift Cardinal Newman, the seventh seed, to a 48-47 victory.

Vice-Neat drew two defenders with a strong move to the basket before finding Cargill, who made the wide-open layup.

After a timeout, Carondelet got a last-second shot that didn’t draw iron, and Cardinal Newman (29-3) prevailed.

“I celebrated this more than state,” Mertle said referring to last year’s Division IV crown. “We were so excited to go Open, and then to get a win at this level is so meaningful.”

Tal Webb led Cardinal New- man with 11 points, Vice-Neat added 10, and Cargill had eight points and three assists. University of Portland-bound Lauren Walker, a 6-foot-5 post, had just seven points but contributed 14 rebounds, four blocks and excellent defense against Carondelet’s big frontcourt.

Cardinal Newman came out with superior quickness to bolt to a 10-1 early lead, but Carondelet (28-5) came back to trail 37-35 after three quarters. The game featured nine lead changes and four ties, the last four lead changes coming in the final two minutes.

Carondelet took its first lead of the second half at 45-44 on a basket by Ali Bamberger, before Vice-Neat scored with 1:12 left.

Brianna Simonich (16 points) gave the Cougars a 47-46 lead with 28 seconds left on an inside bucket before Cargill’s final basket.

Cardinal Newman will be on the road again Tuesday, when it plays Pinewood-Los Altos Hills.

Pinewood 51, Bishop O’DowdOakland 43:

Hannah Jump had 14 points and Mikaela Topper and Brianna Claros added 11 each as secondseeded Pinewood (25-3) eliminated No. 6 Bishop O’Dowd (26-5) for a second straight year. O’Dowd, which got 14 points from Myah Pace, led 38-37 with 5:37 left, but Pinewood finished things off with a 14-5 run.

Mitty 92, Sacred Heart Cathedral 71:

Haley Jones had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Maddy Holland added 16 points and 10 rebounds as topseeded Mitty (26-2) beat No. 8 Sacred Heart Cathedral (18-9) at home for the third time this season. Karisma Ortiz added 19 points for Mitty, which led 51-28 at halftime. Cincinnatibound IImar’I Thomas capped her high school career with 23 points for SHC, which also got 13 points from Yanah Fleming. Mitty, which also got a combined 21 points from Krissy Miyahara and Ania McNicholas, will host fourth-seeded St. Mary’s-Stockton (21-10) on Tuesday.

St. Mary’s-Stockton 72, SalesianRichmond 49:

Neenah Young had 15 points and Aquira DeCosta added 12 points and 15 rebounds as host St. Mary’s (21-10) breezed past North Coast Section Division 4 champion Salesian (24-9), which got 17 points from Nia Chinn.