A thriller on Friday ended with a 49-47 overtime loss for the Lady Comets at home against Blair Oaks.

“We hadn’t played in 17 days, and it showed throughout the contest,” said Coach John Fick. “We were all just a half-step off with everything we were doing.”

Fatima had been averaging only 17 turnovers a game, but on Friday, the girls had 29. “That’s 12 extra possessions we usually have, and we didn’t get to execute on offense,” said Fick. “On top of that, we missed 14 free throws. To beat a team like Blair Oaks, we can’t have self-inflicted wounds like that and expect to win.”

Fatima covered 12-26 from the line on the night, with a 3-9 mark from beyond the arc.

The game was tight throughout, as the Lady Comets, who shot 38.1% on the night, led 19-18 at the break. Blair Oaks made up the point in the fourth, but the Lady Comets still had opportunities.

“Considering how poorly we played, the girls still had a chance down the stretch in regulation and in overtime to win; we just didn’t capitalize,” Fick noted. “The big emphasis I’ve been asking of the girls is boxing out and getting defensive rebounds. I thought besides the first quarter, we did a good job of that.”

Casey Kleffner (trey, 4-5 FT) led with 13 points as Adalyn Berhorst (trey, 2-9 FT) added 11. Alex Berhorst put in six as Natalie Wilbers and Anna Struemph scored five apiece, Anne Boyce and Rylie Wieberg posted three each, and Elise Dickneite finished with one. Wilbers recorded a team-high four assists.

On the glass, Adalyn Berhorst snagged 11 rebounds for a double-double, and Wilbers grabbed nine, followed by A. Boyce (4), Alex Berhorst (2), and Dickneite, Struemph, Kleffner, Jane Boyce, and Kacey Brune (1 each).

Wilbers counted six steals to lead the Lady Comets as Adalyn Berhorst posted three (plus a block), Kleffner and Brune each had two, and Alex Berhorst and Wieberg finished with one apiece.

With the loss, Fatima drops to 8-5 on the season.

In the JV game, the Lady Comets ran away with a 50-20 win.

“Our defensive pressure was the key, holding Blair Oaks to 20 points, mostly from the foul line,” said Coach Chris Ellis.

Fatima kept the Lady Falcons in check, allowing nine first-half points while extending the lead in each subsequent quarter.

Freshman Rylie Wieberg was dominant, hitting a trey and going 4-8 at the line for 21 points to lead all scorers.

Addie Bower (trey) added seven, followed by Struemph (6), Emery Berhorst (6), Avery Berhorst (6), and Chloe Brune (1).