Team Preview: Cardinal Newman

Throughout this month (and next), I will be highlighting selected teams across South Florida. Today, my focus is on Cardinal Newman in <strong>West Palm</strong> <strong>Beach</strong>. The Lady Crusaders went 10-9 last season under head coach <strong>Thomas Kohlwaies</strong>. Two of their nine losses were to <strong>Westminster</strong> <strong>Academy.</strong> Moreover, two of their three losses were to Palm Beach County teams were by a combined ten points. The other was a 24-point defeat to <strong>Benjamin</strong>. I do want to give them credit for beating a good <strong>Miami Palmer</strong> <strong>Trinity</strong> team by four points. Overall, you had some ups and downs with this team in 2020-2021. Key players: 2023’s [player_tooltip player_id="145087" first="Checorey" last="Bouie"] and [player_tooltip player_id="243927" first="Angelina" last="Kohlwaies"] headline this team. The pair combined for 24 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and two blocks per game. Bouie is a 5-foot-8 forward while Kohlwaies is a 5-foot-10 guard. Both players can stretch the floor and knock down outside shots. Kohlwaies went 23-of-76 (30 percent) from deep while Bouie shot 46 percent overall from the floor. I think Kohlwaies is a great playmaker that uses her length and vision well to create for her teammates. Bouie has high level athleticism as half of her rebounds came on the offensive end. Injuries have troubled both players in the past, so hopefully they can stay healthy. 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="243936" first="Katie" last="McCabe"] averaged a modest 6.6 points and 1.9 rebounds while shooting 29 percent from the field. The 5-foot-4 guard needs to shoot better from the floor. McCabe does have some range after knocking down 19 3-pointers. Two of her better games were against against <strong>Somerset</strong> <strong>Academy - Canyons</strong> with 17 points and <strong>St. Andrew’s</strong> with 11 points. McCabe also averaged just under two steals per game. She could be an X-Factor with a bit more consistency. 2024 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id="243881" first="Alysha" last="Fenelus"] averaged 4.9 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. Look for her to take another step this fall. Watch out for transfers [player_tooltip player_id="331718" first="Kori" last="Wimberly"] (2023), Amy Manzano (2024), Madison Mingo (2023), and 2025 [player_tooltip player_id="331716" first="Julia" last="Vazquez"]. Bouie and Kohlwaies accounted for 54 percent of Cardinal Newman’s scoring. The Crusaders need to get more production out of the rest of the roster. I think that will help Cardinal Newman go from a ten-win team to a 12-win team or better. For any South Florida Prep Girls Hoops news or information...please contact Michael Costeines @Steins_23 on Instagram or follow him on Twitter @Mungertown_Mike23. &nbsp; &nbsp;