Faith Christian sophomore guard Lauren Harris (5) shoots a three-pointer in the Lady Lions’ 65-61 loss to Weed on Saturday, March 2. 

WEED, CA (MPG) - The Faith Christian girls basketball team ended their season on Saturday, March 2, as the Weed Cougars stormed a second half comeback to win 65-61 over the Lady Lions in the CIF Division VI NorCal semifinals.

The game was originally scheduled to start at 7 p.m., but due to the winter storm conditions happening in Siskiyou County, both teams got the approval to push the game up a couple hours earlier to make it an easier trip for the Lady Lions.

Faith Christian sophomore guard Lauren Harris (5) throws a lob pass up court to freshman guard Mia Bryan (11) in the Lady Lions’ 65-61 loss to Weed on Saturday, March 2.

Faith Christian led 15-12 at the end of the first quarter where Weed had a few second-chance opportunities that they cashed in to stay close.

Offensively for the Lady Lions, sophomore guard Lauren Harris led as she hit a couple of three-point baskets and spaced out the floor by finding fellow sophomore guard Presley Berry on the perimeter for a couple assists. Berry had 11 points in the game.

Faith Christian sophomore guard Lauren Harris (5) dribbles left in the second half in the Lady Lions’ loss to Weed 65-61 on Saturday, March 2.

In the second quarter, Faith Christian was able to kill any positive momentum following any Lady Cougars basket as Harris would come down the floor and silence the crowd with a basket of her own. Harris was able to dish out assists down court as freshman Mia Bryan received a few outlet passes to contribute 10 points in the game.

The Lady Lions had a 13-point lead at the half 36-23. Harris had 23 of her game-high 40 points at the half for Faith Christian.

Faith Christian sophomore guard Lauren Harris (5) shoots a three-pointer in the first half during the Lady Lions’ 65-61 defeat to Weed on Saturday, March 2.

In the second half, Weed came out determined to get back in the game as they opened the second half with a 9-2 run led by senior center Renaissance Johnson and junior forward Alayja Oliver, who were able to get the ball inside the paint and into the basket to cut the Lady Lions’ lead.

The Lady Cougars eventually took the lead with two-and-a-half minutes left in the third and we had the game tied at 48 entering the final quarter.

Faith Christian sophomore guard Lauren Harris (5) throws a pass up court in the first half of the Lady Lions’ 65-61 defeat on Saturday, March 2, to Weed.

Weed eventually pressed up its defense schematically and was able to trap Harris with three defenders at half court which made it difficult to move the ball they had been comfortable with throughout the game.

Faith Christian Head Coach Geoff Harris expressed to the Dispatch that it forced the offense to make a difficult change where the backdoor cuts and screen reads were hard to coordinate.

Geoff added that is one thing they have struggled with consistently this season and that it’s going to take a lot of work and time on the court to be successful with, and that they need to be able to execute it.

Faith Christian freshman guard Mia Bryan (11) puts up a shot in the Lady Lions’ 65-61 defeat to Weed on Saturday, March 2.

The Lady Cougars built an eight-point lead with five-and-a-half minutes left in the game and were able to connect on some deep buckets and keep the lead.

Weed was in the penalty with a little over five minutes to go in the game, but only let the Lady Lions get the game back to one possession once with a little over a couple minutes in the game and closed out the victory to move onto the NorCal regional.

Faith Christian sophomore guard Presley Berry (21) shoots a deep three in the first half of the Lady Lions’ 65-61 defeat to Weed on Saturday, March 2.

Geoff expressed to the Dispatch that when the game was over, his thoughts immediately went to the two seniors on the Faith Christian roster in forward Carleigh McCracken and Hannah Bliss.

Geoff told the Dispatch that they meant the world to him, he was blessed to be a part of their lives and he is proud of the way they have developed throughout their time since he has taken over the program. The Lady Lions will return eight players next season and they won’t have any seniors next season.

Faith Christian sophomore guard Presley Berry (21) shoots a three-pointer in the Lady Lions’ 65-61 loss to Weed on Saturday, March 2.

Geoff said his fondest memory of the season came when the girls displayed the grit and laid it all on the floor for the 74-72 comeback victory over Valley Christian in the Sacramento Metropolitan Athletic League championship on Feb. 6.

“Everyone contributed in that game and didn’t give up, we persevered and won it together,” Geoff said.