Heathwood Hall’s Corey Littlejohn floats in for a shot over Cardinal Newman’s Colbern Gatling. Photo by Jim Marczesky Mac Whalen and Corey Littlejohn each scored 19 points to lead the Heathwood Hall Highlanders to a comfortable 49–23 win over host Cardinal Newman in the regular– season finale for both teams on Thursday, February 11.

The Highlanders (20–5, 8–2) came out quickly and took control of the game. Joseph English scored five points and Whalen had six in the first period. Heathwood led 13–5 after one quarter.

Littlejohn then scored all eight of Heathwood’s points in the second quarter, which doubled the output of the Cardinals and extended the Highlander lead to 21–10 at the half.

Littlejohn scored the first basket of the second half to give him 10 straight points. Whalen then rattled off 11 straight including 3 three–point baskets in the third quarter to increase the Highlander lead to 41–17 after three quarters. They cruised to the easy victory from there.

Cardinal Newman (11–14, 2–8) could get nothing going on offense on Senior Night. The most points they scored in any quarter was seven, as the Highlander defense denied them any really good looks at the basket. The leading scorer for the Cardinals was senior Hunter Pope with six points.

Heathwood Hall heads into the SCISA AAA state tournament having finished tied with St. Joseph’s (Greenville) as region co–champions. Cardinal Newman awaits their tournament fate having not finished in the top four of the region.