Queen Creek, Ariz. – Seniors Marlee Nicolos and Logan Kelly both posted double-doubles to help St. Francis defeat Omaha Northwest (Neb.) 62-56 on Wednesday in the Nike Tournament of Champions.
 

“We are really happy with the win,” said Nicolos. “We talked a lot about it and we were not happy with how we played yesterday. We really wanted to step up our game, listening to coach and working on his points of energy and effort and the results we will show. It definitely did today.”

Nicolos led the team with 15 points and added 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals.

St. Francis (3-2) lost its opener on Tuesday to Horizon (Colo.) and was determined to have a better performance in their second tournament game. The Troubadours trailed 21-13 after the first quarter but showed the effort that was lacking the day before. The game turned in the second quarter led by junior Jorie Keitges.

SF out-scored the Huskies 22-7 in the period behind an eight-point effort by Keitges with two three-pointers and a pair of free throws. Junior Nika Bagatelos, junior Gabi Lopez and sophomore Mia Fleming-Mullins each added a triple as the Troubies took the lead for good.

“We were down by so much we had to kick it in gear to come back,” said Keitges, who finished with a season-high 10 points. “We came together as a team and we brought energy to the table.”

St. Francis led 35-28 at the break and extended the lead in the third quarter behind six points by Kelly and four by Nicolos to push the lead to 47-33.

“We needed the (run in) in the third quarter to keep the tempo up and make sure we kept playing defense and the offense came,” said Kelly, who finished with 12 points with a team-high 11 rebounds.

But the Omaha Northwest squad was not done. The Troubies went scoreless over an extended period over the end of the third and early fourth as the Huskies went on a 13-0 run to close within a point.

Kelly and Keitges scored to end the drought and junior Lauren Pank added to key late baskets, scoring all of her five points in the final quarter.

“We started off the game with energy and we did not have as many turnovers,” said Kelly.

St. Francis advances to a 2 p.m. game against Warren High School on Thursday at Queen Creek High School. Warren was a 48-44 winner over Morgan (Utah) on Wednesday.

St. Francis 62, Omaha Northwest (Neb.) 56

Omaha Northwest 21 7 10 18 – 56

St. Francis 13 22 12 15 – 62

SF – Nicolos 15, Kelly 12, Keitges 10, Fleming-Mullins 7, Pank 5, Bagatelos 4, Gage 4, Lopez 3, Williams 2. ON – Fenceroy 16, Burns 13, Douglas 9, Lemon 8, Tucker 7, Thorson 2, Smith 1.