By Harold Abend

Napa, Calif,- Less than two weeks after Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa senior sharpshooter Kate Schat suffered a broken nose in the third quarter of a heartbreaking 2-point loss to Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Franciso, Schat wasn't really needed in a 74-37 victory over Oakland the following day.

However, that wasn't the case in the opening round of the Justin-Siena Christmas tourney on Thursday night when they faced an Arcata team that came into game with a goal of justify themselves as a contender for the CIF North Coast Section Division 4 playoffs.

[caption id="attachment_28047" align="alignright" width="516"]

Cardinal Newman's top scorer Kate Schat[/caption]

In the end Cal-Hi Sports No. 2 Cardinal Newman (6-2) overcame a slow start and having the Santa Clara-committed Schat compromised by her broken nose to post a hard-fought 53-44 victory over the girls from "Behind the Redwood Curtain."

Not only did Schat have to wear a cumbersome mask she needed to constantly adjust to keep it from blocking her vision, Cardinal Newman came out ice cold and trailed 17-10 after one quarter.

Three-point shooting has been a mainstay for Newman but they missed their first seven shots from outside the arc and were one-of 10 before they started to warm up. Schat finally connected on a three-pointer that cut the deficit to 22-20 and then a tree-pointer just before the buzzer that ended the half by sophomore Avery Vinson gave the Cardinals a 23-22 halftime lead that resulted in them only trailing once at 27-26 up until the final buzzer when their nine-point lead was the largest of the game.

Despite the handicap of having to navigate a cumbersome mask Schat connected on three three-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points with eight rebounds.

A player to look for that head coach Monica Mertle sees as having all state potential is freshman Saundra Jordan. The game was fairly close throughout the second half, but the 6-foot-2 freshman power forward controlled the paint and also came up with some key baskets. Jordan finished with a double-double 12 points and 10 rebounds with four blocks. Down the stretch when Arcata closed to 45-42 she was fouled and made both free-throws, and then after a block and rebound she scored again and was fouled. Jordan made another free-throw that got the lead to 50-44 with under two minutes remaining, and from there Newman closed it out with a basket and a single free-throw by sophomore Dayeet Solomon.

Arcata (5-4) was led by the junior twins Mae and Tae Wolford. Mae finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and six steals. Tae added nine points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Cardinal Newman advances to the semifinals where it faces host Justin-Siena at 7:30 on Friday night.

Justin-Siena (7-0) stayed unbeaten in a 71-43 victory over Carlmont-Belmont in a game where they only trailed once at 8-7 before they went on a 15-4 run to take a 22-12 lead after one quarter they stretched to the final buzzer when the final basket of the game provided the largest margin.

[caption id="attachment_28049" align="alignleft" width="473"]

Freshman post player Saundra Jordan [/caption]

Jordan Washington, a 6-foot-1 senior center, pretty much had her way inside and finished with a double-double 17 points and 12 rebounds, plus three blocks. She even drained a three-pointer to the delight of the home crowd.

Senior Lauren Keller added 11 points, four rebounds and two steals. Senior Madyson Carson also had 11 points with one three-pointer.

Carlmont (3-3) got a solid effort from senior point guard Willow Ishibashi-To. She finished with a game-high 23 points with four rebounds and two steals.

Cal-Hi Sports No. 19 Clovis (10-1) punched its ticket to the semis with a 61-45 victory over St. Mary's-Berkeley.

Senior Saiya Sidhu led Clovis with 18 points including one three-pointer. Flashy junior guard Sadie Sin added 13 points with three three-pointers.

St. Mary's (6-4) 14 points from seniors Marlee Richard and Tatiana Wilson, and 11 points from Neiyah Thompson.   

Moreau Catholic (5-2) will be in the semis against Clovis after a 48-25 victory over Monte-Vista-Danville (3-6).