QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. – The St. Francis basketball team dropped their opener in the 2017 Nike Tournament of Champions to Horizon (Colo.) 59-35 at Queen Creek High School. Four Troubadours scored six points each to lead the team.

“They need to take the challenge to be ready to compete from the start of the day until game time,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “No one is going to do it for them and they have to do it themselves.”

St. Francis (2-2) fell behind early in the contest at Horizon built a 13-3 lead in the first quarter as the Troubies managed just a solo three-pointers. SF got back in the game with the triple, hitting three in the second quarter and getting a pair of baskets from senior Marlee Nicolos.

The Troubadours closed the deficit to five but trailed by 10 at the half and was never closer in the contest.

“We really battled the height disadvantage today,” said Pitton. “Marlee and Logan played hard to the severe height disadvantage. Out defense on the perimeter was non-competitive.”

Horizon (5-0) was led by Alyssa Jimenez, who scored a game-high 26 points, and 12 points by Samantha Deem. Nicolos, senior Logan Kelly, junior Nika Bagatelos and junior Lauren Pank all scored six points for St. Francis. Junior Gabi Lopez added five points in the loss.

St. Francis plays their second game on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. against Omaha Northwest, who lost to Orangewood Academy (Calif.) 49-41.

Horizon (Colo.) 59, St. Francis 35

St. Francis 3 13 9 10 – 35

Horizon (Colo.) 14 12 19 14 – 59

H – Jimenez 26, Deem 12, Allen 8, Wisne 6, Fields 3, Ramirez 2, Carlson 2. SF – Bagatelos 6, Pank 6, Nicolos 6, Kelly 6, Lopez 5, Keitges 3, Fleming-Mullins 2, Williams 1.