MICHAEL KIRAL

ST. JAMES – Amanda Helm tossed in 22 points as St. Charles Catholic held off St. James, 54-45, in District 9-3A play Friday night. The Lady Comets improved to 1-2 in district play and 4-16 overall. St. James fell to 0-15 overall and 0-3 in district. Heather Heltz helped out with 15 points. Kristen Lodrigues contributed nine points and Lynze Perkins five. Raven Malancon also had 22 points to lead St. James. Ashley Emery tossed in eight points and Natalie Smith seven. St. Charles Catholic took a 13-7 lead after the first quarter behind eight points by Helm and three by Lodrigues. Helm added another 10 points in the second quarter as the Lady Comets took a 28-23 lead into halftime. Malancon kept the Lady Wildcats close with 13 points in the quarter, including two 3-pointers. Emery also had a 3-pointer while Perkins tossed one in for the Lady Comets. Heltz scored 11 points, hitting three 3-pointers, to put St. Charles Catholic ahead 41-32 with less than a minute to play in the third quarter. Malancon scored on a put back but Lodrigues answered with a jumper from the left side to make it a nine point game with 30 seconds left. With time clicking down in the final seconds, Emery dribbled to the left side and put up a shot just over midcourt that banked in at the buzzer, bringing the Lady Wildcats to within 43-38. But the Lady Comets pulled away in the fourth quarter, going on an 11-1 run. Helm hit two free throws and Jenna Oncale drove in off a rebound to make it 48-39 with five minutes to play. Helm then took two passes from Brittany Vicknair inside and Heltz scored off a pass from Kelly Cupit to make it 54-39. Emery hit two 3-pointers to bring St. James to within nine with a minute to play but the Lady Wildcats could not pull any closer.