Fatima hung with Staley during Friday’s Jefferson Bank Classic championship game at Capital City but fell 57-37.

“We battled our butts off but ran out of gas,” said Coach Matt Baker. “They’re one of the best Class 6 teams in the state. They’re huge, long, athletic, and shoot it well. All that considered, we were still in the game in the third quarter, but it seemed like Staley had an answer for every big shot we made.”

Tied through the first quarter at 12-12, Fatima slipped a bit in the second and trailed 24-17 at the break.

The Lady Comets shot 35.9% from the field while covering 4-17 from three-point range and 5-9 at the FT line.

Staley began to pull away late in the third, winning the frame 19-12 before using a 14-6 advantage in the fourth to seal the victory.

Vivian Bax and Alli Robertson, who were named to the All-Tournament team, scored 16 and 9 points, respectively. Bax drilled two three-pointers and went 2-4 at the FT line while collecting three rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Robertson was 3-5 at the stripe and grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds with an assist.

Lucy Crede won the three-point contest before draining one in the title game as part of her seven points. She added three rebounds and two steals.

Alex Berhorst added seven points and an assist, and Kaitlyn Plassmeyer put in two points and grabbed a rebound. Kristen Robertson finished with two rebounds and two assists.

Fatima played two distinct halves in a 63-49 semifinal win.

“We found ourselves down 10 points at halftime as JC shot well from three, their zone was very active, and we didn’t convert offensively,” said Baker. “Madelyn (Backes) and Payton (Wieberg) gave us some huge minutes in the first half against JC’s zone and really floated the ship for us.”

After a six-point first, the Lady Comets recovered and, toward the end of the second quarter, forced three straight turnovers in their press and scored 15.

“That was the key to the game,” said Baker, as his team trailed the Lady Jays 30-21 at the break.

Fatima wiped the slate clean and took the lead in the third with a 19-point effort. That continued in the fourth as the Lady Comets outscored JC 23-11 to put the game away.

Bax hit 3-5 from the outside and 10-12 from the line, scoring a game-high 29 points, including 18 in the third quarter alone. KP hit two monster threes in the third for six of her eight points, which also gave Fatima a lot of momentum.

A. Robertson (5-6 FT) added 11 points, followed by K. Robertson (trey, 6 points), Crede (trey, 4 points), Backes and Wieberg (2 each), and Alex Berhorst (1).

On the boards, A. Robertson grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, followed by Bax and Crede (4 each), K. Robertson and Wieberg (3 apiece), Alex Berhorst (2), and Natalie Wilbers and Backes (1 each).

Bax, A. Robertson, KP, and K. Robertson posted three assists apiece. Defensively, KP and Bax each had four steals, and A. Robertson counted three.

Fatima opened with Battle, which was coming off a big win over Kickapoo. “We knew we had our hands full,” said Baker as the Lady Comets claimed a 50-39 win. “Battle has a bunch of shooters and multiple kids who attack off the dribble, which made prepping for them a bit of a challenge. Fortuitously for us, Vivian struggled catching her breath early in the game and we had to change the plan and go to a zone with her off the floor. For the next 7-8 possessions, Battle either turned it over or took low-percentage shots. We mixed and matched zone defenses, and it seemed to keep them off balance for the rest of the game. Natalie did great subbing for Viv and made a monster three in the third quarter.”

Fatima led 16-11 after the first quarter and 24-16 at intermission. After playing to a 10-10 tie in the third, the Lady Comets won the fourth, 16-13. The girls shot 43.6% from the field, converting 5-19 from three-point range and 11-13 from the FT line.

Bax led the team with 13 points (2-7 3PT, 1-2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, block), followed by A. Robertson with 12 (6-7 FT, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, steal), Crede with 11 (2-7 3PT, 1-2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, block), KP with 4 (5 rebounds, steal), Wilbers and K. Robertson (trey each for 3 points), and Alex Berhorst and Backes (2 each).

“Overall, the week was a positive experience all around,” said Baker. “We competed extremely well against three Class 6 teams, and we got better.”