Facing a tough and experienced Petaluma squad, Newman found an offensive rhythm and pulled away in the 4th quarter for a 65-57 Rose City Championship victory.  The Cardinals have now won the Rose City two years in a row, after the Trojans won in 2021 sparking a huge victory celebration on Newman's home floor.  

Things started off rough for CN with 5 Freshman up on the varsity, Petaluma out muscled and out shot the Cardinals in the first quarter, jumping out to a 19-13 lead.  By far the most points Newman has surrendered in a quarter all year.  Petaluma's Andy Bai hit two 3-point baskets in the first 8:00, on his way to a team leading 17 points on the night.

The saving grace for Newman was that the Trojans got into foul trouble and Newman took advantage connecting on 9 of 12 in the first quarter.

As the second quarter, began Coach Travis Taylor emphasized keeping Petaluma out of the paint and rebounding.  The Cardinals chipped away.  Legend Haile hit a 3 to get the offense rolling.  Carmine Guevara hit another and at the Half it was a 2 point game. 

With a renewed sense of hope, the young Cardinals began to toughen up and move the ball for good shots.  The plan worked.  Diego Gonzalez hit a 3 to start the 3rd and quarter and give Newman their first lead of the game.  Petaluma responded with three 3-pointers in the quarter.  Gonzalez scored 7 to keep Newman within 1 point heading to the final 8:00. Newman's defense rose to the occasion and clutch 3-pointers by freshmen AJ Cole and Guevara gave CN a 4 point lead with just 2 minutes to play.  Petaluma tried to turn up the heat defensively but foul calls kept them at bay.  Growing frustration mounted and Coach Anton Lyon was hit with a technical foul.  Legend Haile hit both from the line and Newman got the ball up 6.

Senior Matt Zichichi was clutch hitting 3 of 4 fts in th 4th and finishing with 7 points for Newman.  Junior Diego Gonzalez hit a layup with 1 minute to go and finished with 18 points and was rewarded with the tourney MVP honors.  Sophomore Legend Haile and Matt Zichichi were named all tourney.

The defense was stellar all weekend as the 114 points given up as a team is just one point shy of the Rose City record of 113 set by the 1987 team before the shot clock was instituted

Not many could have predicted the Cardinals with their "youth movement" would be sitting at 8-0 with two tourney championships at his point.   

NBL Oak play begins Tuesday night and Newman heads across town to take on the league favorite Montgomery Vikings with a senior laden from line of 6-8, 6-5 and 6-3.  Monty is coming off a tourney title in Arcata and will be Newman's toughest test of the season thus far.  Then its off to the Brett Callan Memorial at Casa Grande next weekend

After that tourney, transfer and 6-4 junior Tatum Kurpinsky becomes eligible giving the squad a huge scoring punch and added height. He makes his debut against Analy on Saturday the 23rd.