By Jim Seay

The overlap of two of the football and basketball is occurring again. This past year’s SCISA Class AAA semi–final game saw the Cardinal Newman boy’s hoops team miss the state championship rematch with Porter–Gaud by one point. Pinewood Prep eliminated the Cardinals who finished with an overall record of 22–8.

Two seasons ago, Cardinal Newman took Porter–Gaud to triple overtime before falling 75–72 in the title game at Sumter.

Cardinal Newman Coach Wayne Earhardt’s team gives sort of a preview of this year’s potential when it participates at Richland Northeast High School in the Cavaliers Preseason Jamboree Tuesday, November 23.

The Cardinal Newman team will meet the Lugoff–Elgin Demons in the opening two quarters encounter at 7 pm. The other similar pairings, also two periods in length, feature Spring Valley playing Fairfield Central and host Richland Northeast facing Brookland–Cayce. Admission is $4.

The Cardinals will be without two of their top players. Junior guard Michael Culbertson and senior wingman Brent Zokan will be honored at the school’s football awards banquet on the same night. However, Earhardt still has some veterans who will suit up. When the season actually begins, seven or eight of the top Cardinals are expected to keep the program on a steady course.

“One guy who has been with us since his freshman year is senior J.P. Nerbun,” said Earhardt. “He’s very good and plays all five positions. Michael Lynch (6’ 3” senior center) blew out an ACL last year and is back. Brennen Williams is a senior guard who signed to play soccer at USC. Then, there’s a sophomore guard, John Wilson who should be one of our starters.”

Nerbun’s younger brother Michael should be a solid contributor to the Cards’ success. Another returning junior forward is Kyle Monahan who becomes eligible in January. Included among the more youthful players are freshman Palmer Stokes and sophomore Peter Kaple.

First game nerves can play havoc on concentration, but, the fact that teams have the opportunities to look into the faces of players other than their teammates is positive.

“The benefit of a jamboree like this is to give the kids an opportunity to warm up in front of a crowd and, for us, going against a bigger and talented team is a good thing,” concluded Earhardt.