SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Ally Gage had a career-high 14 points and team-best nine rebounds but the St. Francis varsity team lost to rival Christian Brothers 46-40 in the annual Holy Hoops game in front of a sold out gymnasium.
"It was a lot of fun and more fun to play with our team," said Gage. "We started off really well and had a lead for a while. It was nice to have our school to help us out and cheer for us."
Gage kept her team in the game in the first half as both teams struggled offensively. She scored one of only two baskets in the first, the other a Mia Fleming-Mullins triple, as the Troubadours trailed 10-7. She added six of the team's eight points in the second quarter as the game was deadlocked at 15 at the break.
"She had a breakout game and they did not have a matchup on her," said Head Coach Heather Brownholtz. "She exposed it and showed the basketball IQ to go after it with the guards making the reads. I am really proud of her."
Gage led the team with five points in the third as the Troubies took a 30-26 lead. Mackenzie Le and Jorie Keitges added baskets for SF. In the fourth, the Troubadours extended the lead as Fleming-Mullins had seven of her 13 points but the Falcons rallied with a 13-0 run to take the lead after going down eight. St. Francis struggled at the line and gave CB second chances on offensive boards.
"It does not feel too good especially being my last year on varsity in the biggest game," said Gage. "I definitely think we are a way better team than we showed."
Despite the loss, Brownholtz was impressed with the Holy Hoops atmosphere in her first season as the program's head coach.
"It is a great to have a packed house for the freshmen, JV and the varsity girls who have been doing this for a long time," said Brownholtz. "To see the women's game come this far is awesome. What a great environment. I am proud of them and I think they handled it well."
Gage and Fleming-Mullins both reached double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively. It was the sixth career double-figure game for Gage in her varsity career, finishing a rebound short of her fourth career double-double. Lee finished with five points and Le added four.
The team returns back to Delta League play on Tuesday against first-place Cosumnes Oaks in a locally televised game on Access Sacramento.
"It is a big game but honestly our season starts on Tuesday," said Brownholtz. "We have a big league game against Cosumnes Oaks. We have to take them one at time. The girls are focused on that. We are disappointed but moving forward."
Christian Brothers 46, St. Francis 40
CB – Shine 16, Simes 12, Cooper 10, Vishay 3, Allem 2. SF - Gage 14, Fleming-Mullins 13, Lee 5, Le 4, Keitges 2, Bagatelos 2.
