It doesn’t look like there will be an easy game for anyone in the Jefferson Bank Holiday Hoops Classic. “You know your first-round game will be a barnburner and there’s a really good chance all three of them will be as well,” Helias coach Garrett Wiggans said Wednesday during a press conference for the Classic, to be played Dec. 28-30 at Capital City High School.
The Helias Lady Crusaders never quit. Top-seeded Helias rebounded from a seven-minute stretch without a field goal with an 11-3 run late in the fourth quarter to come back for a 57-53 win against the third-seeded Fatima Lady Comets in the championship of the Comet Classic.
The Helias Lady Crusaders and the Blair Oaks Lady Falcons both take pride in their defense on the basketball court. On Tuesday night, Helias forced a handful more turnovers and committed fewer fouls, which added up to a victory in its season opener. “The energy was there,” Helias coach Garrett Wiggans said following a 62-43 win against Blair Oaks. “We caused several turnovers that led to points, which is what we want to do.”
The Helias Lady Crusaders are coming off a Class 4 Final Four appearance. Bumped up to Class 5, they are looking for a similar finish to this season. “I hesitate to call it pressure, it’s more our expectation,” Helias coach Garrett Wiggans said as the Lady Crusaders prepared for tonight’s season opener against Blair Oaks in Wardsville. “If you go around to any high school or any athlete, you’re going to hear Final Four or a state championship as their ultimate goal."
Helias senior Gabrielle Bax has been a superstar all postseason, but she managed to save her best for last. Bax scored a career-high 24 points, including back-to-back 3-pointers that gave the Lady Crusaders the lead for good late in the third quarter. Those six points helped propel Helias to a 51-40 win against the St. James Lady Tigers in the Class 4 girls third-place game Saturday morning at JQH Arena.