QUEEN Creek, Ariz. – The St. Francis basketball team used a strong second quarter for the second consecutive day to help post a 51-39 win over Warren (Calif.) and advance to the consolation bracket championship Friday.

“We built off the energy from last game with our defensive intensity,” said junior Nika Bagatelos. “That started it off and then our shots started falling.”

Bagatelos finished with 13 points with three triples and senior Logan Kelly scored a team-high 15 points as the Troubadours won their second game in three days.

“I felt we were able to maintain the discipline of getting ball pressure at the half court,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “Logan and Marlee (Nicolos) did a tremendous job on their top player, holding her to 10 points and took away their No. 1 option. It was a combination of perimeter and post defense.”

Nicolos scored eight for SF, including a pair of three-pointers, and junior guard Lauren Pank added two, including a buzzer-beating bomb to end the first half.

“Offensively, when we moved the ball we got wonderful opportunities,” said Pitton. “Nika Bagatelos did a great job of attacking the basket as well as knocking down her threes.”

St. Francis will complete the tournament on Friday with a 2 p.m. game against Salem Academy (Ore.).

Nike Tournament of Champions

Phoenix, Ariz.

St. Francis 51, Warren (Calif.) 39

Warren (Calif.) 11 4 10 14 – 39

St. Francis 10 14 14 13 – 51

SF – Kelly 15, Bagatelos 13, Nicolos 8, Pank 7, Williams 2, Graybill 2, Lopez 2, Keitges 2. W – Berry 11, Chavers 9, Potts 8, Magana 8, Lora 2, Billups.