Photo by Jim Marczesky CN's Jake Motto looks to pass over Hammond's A.D. Briggs. Motto had 18 points and nine rebounds. Jake Motto had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Zach Hrovat chipped in 15 points to lead the Cardinal Newman Cardinals to a 58- 55 victory over the host Hammond Skyhawks on Tuesday, January 20.

The Cardinals led 15- 11 after the first quarter and 29- 20 at the end of the first half behind a balanced attack that saw seven different players score.

Hrovat hit his second three- pointer of the night to give Cardinal Newman a 13- point lead at 35- 22 with 6:30 to go in the third quarter. Then the Skyhawks ignited, scoring the next seven points and 17 of the next 19 to take a 39- 37 lead with 30 second left in the third. Senior Cliff Ayers hit two three- pointers in that run to spark Hammond, and Cardinal Newman had four turnovers and six missed shots. Senior Twan Alewine finally stemmed the tide, making two free throws to tie the score at 39 heading into the fourth quarter.

Hammond then went on an 11- 4 run to lead by seven with four minutes remaining. Five different players scored in that four minutes for the Skyhawks, including Ayers and fellow senior A.D. Briggs. After a Motto put- back of an offensive rebound, Dave Nidiffer hit his only bucket of the night, a three from the left corner, and Aaron Walters converted a steal into an easy lay up to give Hammond a seemingly insurmountable 10- point lead with less than three minutes to play.

Cardinal Newman righted the ship with an Alewine three to cut the lead to seven, and then Hrovat hit his third three of the night to make it a four- point deficit. After a couple of turnovers by the Skyhawks, sophomore Timmy Cunningham hit one of two free throws to cut the lead to 55- 52 with 1:52 remaining.

The Cardinals could not buy a bucket for the next minute, missing two wide open threes and turning the ball over twice, but the Skyhawks missed their free throws. Motto hit a lay up with 42 seconds left to bring the Cardinals to within one.

The Skyhawks then committed a traveling violation, and Edward Dannelly fed Motto inside again to give the Cardinals a one- point lead.

After a timeout, Hammond missed a short jumper, and Motto converted the ensuing free throws to give Cardinal Newman a three- point lead with eight seconds remaining. Ayers got a good look at a three to tie, but his shot went off the front rim. The Cardinals got the win scoring the final 13 points of the contest.

Ayers and Walters each scored 14 for the Skyhawks, and Alewine added nine points and four steals for the Cardinals.

Cardinal Newman hosts region rival Heathwood Hall on Friday, January 23, and Hammond plays host to St. Joseph's.