Things looking good for WBAL girls basketball teams

Charlotte Levison and Denise Stine returned to action after missing some time to injury and it turned out Zoe Zaharias' injury wasn't going to hold her back. All three were in the lineup Friday night in the semifinals of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic against Cardinal Newman.

Cardinal Newman won the contest, 53-40, to reach Saturday's championship game of the Panther Division against North Marion at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Cardinals (9-4) have lost three games by four or less points, including a two-point loss at Pinewood earlier in December.

Sacred Heart Prep had a rough second quarter, in which Cardinal Newman opened a 24-15 halftime lead. Both Levison and Norris were in early foul trouble, causing some disruption. It was also clear Levison and Stine haven't regained their rhythm, a problem against a pressure defense like the Cardinals, who were far more physical.

The good news is that the Gators (8-3) never lost their poise even while losing their shooting touch. Part of that was due to Norris, who led the team with 12 points and 11 rebounds and carried herself well in the paint. She's still a project but there's much to like about her game.

Cardinal Newman scored the first seven points of the second half to go up 31-15, though after a timeout the Gators regained some swagger and went on a 9-2 run and ended the third quarter with Stine throwing the ball, like it was a football, from halfcourt and seeing it swish through at the buzzer.

The Gators could not carry the momentum into the final period and they missed their first eight shots and went scoreless the first 5:35 of the quarter.

Zaharias connected on a 3-pointer and a long 2-pointer less than a minute apart, Norris nailed a pair of free throws and Stine produced a late basket but the Cardinals built too large of a lead.