Cardinal Newman sweeps boys, girls league tournament titles

The top teams in the area capture the North Bay League Oak Tournament championships

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Cardinal Newman's boys and girls basketball teams both won their league tournament championships on Friday night at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park. The Cardinal Newman boys defeated Windsor 53-31, while the Cardinal Newman girls beat Maria Carrillo 62-32. Both Cardinal Newman teams were the top seeds in their respective tournaments and completed undefeated league seasons.

Why it matters

Cardinal Newman's basketball programs have established themselves as the dominant forces in the North Bay League, with the girls team winning its 12th straight league tournament title and the boys team capturing its second consecutive championship. This continued success highlights the strength of the school's basketball programs and their ability to consistently compete at a high level.

The details

In the boys game, Cardinal Newman used its stifling defense and rebounding advantage to pull away from Windsor. AJ Cole led the Cardinals with 13 points, while Legend Haile had a well-rounded game with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, and a block. The Cardinal Newman girls were led by Macie Flores, who scored 19 points with 5 three-pointers, and Saundra Jordan, who had 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 5 blocks. The Cardinal Newman girls raced out to a 31-15 halftime lead and never looked back.

  • The games were played on Friday, February 13, 2026 at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park.

The players

Cardinal Newman

A high school in Santa Rosa, California that fields successful boys and girls basketball teams.

Windsor High School

A high school in Windsor, California that competed against Cardinal Newman in the boys basketball league tournament championship game.

Maria Carrillo High School

A high school in Santa Rosa, California that competed against Cardinal Newman in the girls basketball league tournament championship game.

AJ Cole

A player for the Cardinal Newman boys basketball team who scored a game-high 13 points in the championship game.

Legend Haile

A player for the Cardinal Newman boys basketball team who had a well-rounded game with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, and a block in the championship.

Macie Flores

A player for the Cardinal Newman girls basketball team who scored a game-high 19 points with 5 three-pointers in the championship game.

Saundra Jordan

A player for the Cardinal Newman girls basketball team who had 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 5 blocks in the championship game.

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What they’re saying

“Legend has won over 100 varsity games, four-year varsity player, he's a winner, he's selfless. Today, he got an offensive rebound and kicked it out to his teammate for three – those are Legend's three points. He did most of the work. He's a Swiss Army Knife. He can attack the basket, he can make a three, he can defend, he can rebound and he's a great teammate.”

— Travis Taylor, Cardinal Newman Head Coach (The Press Democrat)

“I think the cool part is you get to experience this with a new group every year and this particular team is super young. In a way, it feels like experiencing everything for the first time again. It definitely doesn't get old. I'm really proud of the girls. It's a goal that we set at the beginning of this season – to win league and win the league tournament – and they've accomplished both and I'm super proud of them.”

— Monica Mertle, Cardinal Newman Girls Head Coach (The Press Democrat)

What’s next

Both the Cardinal Newman boys and girls teams will now turn their focus to the North Coast Section playoffs, where they are expected to be high seeds in their respective divisions.

The takeaway

Cardinal Newman's basketball programs have established a consistent standard of excellence, with the boys and girls teams both capturing league tournament titles. This continued success highlights the strength of the school's athletic department and its ability to develop talented student-athletes year after year.