A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE Cardinal Newman School men's varsity basketball TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR A STELLAR SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2024 SOUTH CAROLINA Independent School Association CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Cardinal Newman men's basketball team of Richland County captured the state title from the state competition held at the Sumter Civic Center on Friday, February 23, 2024; and

 

Whereas, to the cheers of their exuberant fans, the Cardinal Newman Cardinals defeated the fine, competitive Augusta Christian School 71-61 to garner the program's tenth championship, its first since moving to class 4A. The team's last title came in 2020 at class 3A; and

 

Whereas, this year's game was a rematch of last year's state championship won by Augusta Christian and was the third matchup of the season between the teams. The two teams split the regular season series 1-1 by a total margin of five; and

 

Whereas, the teams took to the lockers after the first half with a close score of 33-30 for the Cardinals. Amarii King in his first year at Cardinal Newman and senior Evan Carter pulled each other aside for a pep talk during halftime, which apparently worked because each scored eleven points in the third quarter with a 17-5 run to lead 50-35 as Cardinal Newman took control of the game and held off a late rally by Augusta Christian; and

 

Whereas, the Augusta Lions rallied in the fourth quarter to close the gap to 61-58 with less than three and a half minutes in the game, but Luis Echevarria hit a pair of free throws and Josiah Peeples made a layup to widen the Cardinals' lead to 65-58 with less than two minutes of play remaining; and

 

Whereas, Amarii King finished with a game-high 25 points and Evan Carter had 23, another season high. Luis Echevarria finished with 12 points, ending the season with back-to-back double-figure games after having just two double-figure games all season before that week; and

 

Whereas, the Cardinals had a four-game losing streak in late December and early January, but they started peaking near the end of the season, winning twelve of their last fourteen games; and

 

Whereas, in a sport that demands speed, endurance, and accuracy, Head Coach Philip Deter and his skilled coaching staff capitalized on their own athletic experience and training to hone a championship-caliber team and teach these athletes life principles that will endure beyond the court; and

 

Whereas, the championship caps off what Coach Deter called a "roller coaster" of a season that included players missing time with injuries and other situations. Those situations coupled with only two seniors on the roster led to growing pains for the team; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciates the pride and recognition that the Cardinal Newman basketball players have brought to their school and their community, and the members look to forward to following their continued achievements in the days ahead. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Cardinal Newman School men's varsity basketball team, coaches, and school officials for a stellar season and congratulate them for winning the 2024 South Carolina Independent School Association Class 4A State Championship title.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Kelly Burke and Coach Philip Deter.

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