Cardinal Newman gets defensive to win first state title

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — She was told "a billion times," to go straight up. Don't foul. Use your length. And in the final seconds of a state championship game, no reminder was needed.

Lauren Walker, a 6-foot-5 junior, stared hard-charging Tyler Smith right in the eye, went straight up and blocked her final attempt, 6-3 Hailey Vice-Neat grabbed the loose ball and Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) captured its first state crown with a 39-37 victory over Antelope Valley (Lancaster) in the Division IV championship Saturday at Sleep Train Arena.

"I knew there were only a few seconds left," Walker said. "I'm happy I went straight up. I didn't think I was going to be able to block it, but it tipped my fingers."

Said Vice-Neat: "When I grabbed the ball it seemed like the longest five seconds of my life. When the buzzer went off I thought ‘timeout.' Then I thought, ‘no way. Wait. We just won the state title.' "

Vice-Neat led the Cardinals (31-5) with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Walker, a double-digit scorer normally, was limited to just four points, but contributed 11 rebounds and seven blocks.

"She was a wall," Cardinal Newman coach Monica Mertle said. "They weren't getting through her."

Walker's performance personified a defensive slugfest that featured just nine points in the fourth quarter, just three from Cardinal Newman.

Antelope Valley (30-3), which got 14 points from Tylen Price and 10 by Smith, had its 30-game win streak snapped. The Antelopes, making their first title appearance, managed just eight points the final 14 minutes of the game after taking a 29-21 lead.

Shooting both from the field (15 of 52) and the free-throw line (5 of 15) did in the Southern California champions.

"It's a little sad," Antelope Valley coach Deon Price said. "We made a few mistakes the last couple of minutes and missed too many free throws. But I'm very proud of a great season. We made a lot of history. It's a beautiful feeling and definitely something we can build on."

Antelope's pressure defense and offensive rebounding led them to the eight-point lead in the third quarter when Newman guards Maiya Flores and Avery Cargill figured out the press and the Cardinals started to click.

Walker made a layup and free throw. Cargill drilled a three-pointer and Vice-Neal finished off the 12-0 run with a putback and one of her three three-pointers, to go up 33-29.

Morgan Bizzell responded with a layup, but Vice-Neal added a free throw and Cargill added a jumper and the Cardinals entered the fourth with a 36-31 lead.

"We just focused on defensive rebounds and not giving up any second-chance points in the second half," Walker said.

Said Mertle: "It's not always about scoring. It's about rebounds and blocks and assists."
Mertle referred to the team's mission statement about "toughness and togetherness. This game wasn't decided until the final minutes. We wanted something and went out and got it."

The fourth quarter was particular tough. For both teams.

Flores, who hurt her knee in the first half, gutted it out in the second half, when she had three assists.

"I just tweaked it," Flores said. "I feels fine now."

She gave a big smile.

Said Mertle: "It wasn't the prettiest of games. It was a grinder to be sure. But it was a win."

And a championship.