Lady Comets fall in sectionals by two points

Posted 3/15/23

Fatima (22-8) was hyped after winning the district championship and prepared for Southern Boone in last Tuesday’s sectional game at Missouri University of Science and Technology at …

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Lady Comets fall in sectionals by two points

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Fatima (22-8) was hyped after winning the district championship and prepared for Southern Boone in last Tuesday’s sectional game at Missouri University of Science and Technology at Rolla.

“I was happy with our kids’ effort,” said Coach Matt Baker, his team losing 33-31 on a last-second three-pointer by the Lady Eagles at the buzzer. “I really thought the girls were on point and focused from the tip. We held the lead for the majority of the game.”

Up four with about 2:30 to play, the Lady Comets did all they could to close the game.

“We limited our turnovers, rebounded the ball extremely well, and the girls executed another defensive game plan, only giving up 33 points for the entire game,” said Baker. “We mixed our defenses throughout the game, and I think it gave us some breathing room. Offensively, we just had a tough shooting night.”

Baker noted that Fatima missed several free throws and seven wide-open threes the Lady Comets usually make. “Some of that is due to SoBo’s size and length, but we usually knock those shots down,” he added. “There were so many small plays in this game that could’ve broke it open for either team. Even after going back and watching film, I am not sure there was much to do differently. Some nights the shots go in, and some nights they don’t. And for us to still be winning with 14 seconds left in the game, even with us struggling a little offensively, I would be a liar if I said we wouldn’t have taken that going in. To be up with a chance to get a stop against a great program like Southern Boone is a credit to the girls. SoBo just hit a big shot.”

Vivian Bax drained a pair of three-pointers and finished with 10 points to go with four rebounds and two assists. Alli Robertson went 3-5 from the line and added nine points to the mix as she grabbed 10 rebounds and posted three assists and three steals.

Lucy Crede added four points and five boards, Ellie Brune (trey) added five points and three rebounds, and Emma Bower hit a trey for her three points to go with three rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

Kristen Robertson added two assists and a steal, while Kaitlyn Plassmeyer had a pair of rebounds, an assist, and a steal, and Lydia Brunnert finished with four boards.

“Looking back on the season — man, what a ride,” said Baker. “These girls played one heck of a schedule. They lost to six teams all year, and only one of those six was unranked.”

The Lady Comets played Helias, JC, Hickman, Staley, Oxford, Miss., Mansfield, and Licking. “They never complained and never backed down,” said Baker. “They just kept their composure, and I am happy to see it work out for all of them.”

Baker added the program would miss the team’s four seniors. “Claire (Bexten), Emma, Ellie, and Lydia are wonderful young women, and they’ve left their mark on the Lady Comets’ basketball team,” he said.