Fatima trailed by seven with 1:20 left to play and hit the gas, closing the game on an 11-0 run to pull off a 52-48 win over Montgomery County on Thursday. “This was a fun one,” said Coach John Fick. “What a roller coaster of emotions.”

Alex Berhorst started the final push with an offensive rebound to go to the line, where she hit both free throws to tie the game. She hit 4-5 down the stretch. “Free throws came up huge for us,” said Fick as the team converted 9-14 on the night.

After a defensive stop, the Lady Comets pushed the ball down the floor, and Casey Kleffner knocked down a trey to put Fatima up three.

“The girls’ resilience was phenomenal,” said Fick. “They didn’t drop their heads or pout; they just went out and executed. We’ve been in this position a lot this year and have come out on the losing end, so it was a huge boost of confidence for the girls to come out on top.”

Free throws came up huge for Fatima in that game, especially down the stretch as Alex Berhorst covered 4-5.

Kleffner led the team with 15 points, including four three-pointers, as Alex Berhorst put in 10, followed by Anne Boyce (trey) with seven, Rylie Wieberg (5), Adalyn Berhorst (4), Anna Struemph (2-3 FT, 4), Jane Boyce (3), and Natalie Wilbers and Kacey Brune (2 each).

Alex Berhorst led with five assists, and Wilbers added four, with two more by Adalyn Berhorst.

Rebounding efforts were led by Wilbers and Alex Berhorst, who grabbed six and five, respectively, followed by Adalyn Berhorst (4), Wieberg and Brune (3 apiece), and Kleffner and Elise Dickneite (2 each).

Adalyn Berhorst and Brune posted a block each, and Wilbers counted three steals while Alex Berhorst had two.

On Tuesday, the Lady Comets lost to California, 61-43.

“Obviously, it’s a little disappointing when you don’t come out on top, but the girls played great against California,” said Coach Fick. “One of the biggest emphases we’ve put on our girls halfway through the season is rebounding.”

Fatima kept California off the glass with 27 defensive and 13 offensive rebounds. “California puts up a lot of shots, so it’s important that we only let them get one shot per possession, and the girls did that,” said Fick.

It was a close game with four minutes left. “We started leaving too much space for California’s shooters, and they took advantage of that,” Fick added.

Alex Berhorst led the team with 15 points as she went 6-7 at the stripe and hit a three-pointer. Wilbers was 3-6 at he line on her way to nine points, followed by Adalyn Berhorst  (trey, 7), Anna Struemph (2-2 FT, 6), and Brie Massman (trey) and Kleffner, each with three.

On the glass, Alex Berhorst and Wilbers co-led with nine rebounds apiece, as Adalyn Berhorst grabbed six, followed by A. Boyce (5), Dickneite (4), Kleffner (2), and Struemph and Brune (1 apiece).

Defensively, Wilbers was solid with four steals and two blocks, as Struemph and Kleffner posted two steals each.