Photo by Jim Marczesky Cardinal Newman's Michael Littlejohn goes hard to the basket as Hammond's Wilson McWilliams (#30) tries to draw a charge and Daniel Bailey (#11) goes for the block. Cardinal Newman's Michael Littlejohn scored 14 points and Tré Coleman added 13, leading the Cardinals to a stirring, comefrom- behind, yet somewhat controversial 48- 47 win over the Skyhawks Tuesday, February 19.

Hammond started the game on an 11- 2 run behind region co- Player of the Year Daniel Bailey, who scored seven of his game- high 24 points in the first quarter. The Skyhawks led 14- 6 at the end of one, and at the half they led 24- 17. Jake Motto paced the Cardinals with seven of his 12 points in the first half, while Littlejohn and Coleman shot a dismal 4- for- 18. The third quarter was much the same, but the Cardinals did get one point closer, trailing only 36- 30.

The fourth quarter, however, belonged to Cardinal Newman. The Cardinals lost the two regular season matchups this year after either trailing or being tied going into the fourth quarter. But this time was different.

Right:Hammond's Daniel Bailey goes in for the uncontested dunk. Photo by Mike Maddock A steal and lay up by Nick O'Rourke, followed by a missed free throw that was rebounded and put back in by Coleman, who then made a free throw, tied the score for the Cardinals at 38 just over a minute into the quarter.

Another steal and lay up by O'Rourke gave the Cardinals a lead they would never relinquish. Two baskets by Littlejohn sandwiched around a Bailey jumper, followed by a Coleman three- point play, gave the Cardinals a sevenpoint lead. Then Hammond started their comeback.

As happened in each of the two regular season games, Bailey stole a pass and went in for a dunk, igniting the Skyhawk offense. A couple of Cardinal turnovers led to baskets by Hammond, and with 55 seconds remaining, Cardinal Newman's lead was down to two.

Then, Bailey committed his fourth foul, running into Zach Hrovat, who went down hard. Hrovat came out of the game for a bit, and senior Alex Kubas came in to take the free throws. He made one of two, giving the Cardinals a three- point lead. After two Hammond shots came up empty, but with the Skyhawks retaining possession both times, coach Jimmy Braddock called timeout with 12.6 seconds remaining.

Here came the controversy. As Hammond inbounded the ball, the clock operator mistakenly hit the horn, but did not start the clock. The noise in the gym from both teams' fans muffled the horn, and the officials did not notice the clock for a few seconds. After a huddle, the officials reset the clock to 8.3 seconds and gave the Skyhawks the ball out of bounds. Braddock argued that since the clock did not move due to error by the timekeeper, the clock should stay at 12.3 and the action replayed from that point. The officials did not concur with him, and the Skyhawks were forced to play from the new time. Bailey missed a three that would have tied the game, but Steven Harvin put in the offensive rebound, bringing the Skyhawks within one. But the Cardinals smartly did not try to inbound the ball, as high school rules do not stop the clock after a made basket. Time ran out, and the Cardinals celebrated a momentous win.

Littlejohn was named tournament MVP. Joining him on the All- Tournament team were Bailey, Coleman, Mitchell Deter of Ben Lippen, Brett Whalen of Heathwood Hall, Fred Auston of Augusta Christian, and Moses Burgess of St. Joseph's.