COUNTRY CLUB HILLS – After dropping two games to Rich South earlier this season, Joliet Catholic Academy’s girls basketball was determined not to suffer a similar fate when the squads met in the championship game of Monday’s Hillcrest Holiday Classic.

And while the Angels were able to overcome rough starts in each half to grab a six-point lead in the final quarter, the Stars continued the Angels’ frustration by rallying for a 61-58 victory.

“This is a great learning experience,” JCA coach Kenny Battle said. “You’re learning in December, then you go into January strong and want to finish up real strong in February, and then hopefully you’re playing the last week. I like the direction that we’re heading into, but I don’t like finishing second. So we’ll work a little harder and finish games better.

“We’ve progressed very well, and getting Nikki (Nicole Ekhomu) back is a great addition for us. As you saw, they had trouble containing her, and she opened up things for us – not only with her penetration but also her ability to find open shooters and get to the basket for rebounds. When you insert her with the girls who’ve been playing, I like our chances.”

Things were looking good for JCA (9-5) after Mia Farrell (14 points) made a layup and then a jumper to give her squad a pair of six-point leads, but then South (14-2) started to chip away at the 57-51 deficit.

Complicating matters for the Angels was the fact that all-tourney selection Ekhomu (12 points) fouled out with 3:01 left after a questionable charge.

The Stars tied the score at 57 after MVP Tierra Webb (14 points, six rebounds) made a rebound bucket and later added a free throw. JCA grabbed its final lead with 1:01 to go when all-tournament pick Andriana Acosta (seven points, seven rebounds) made a free throw.

But Tierney Lockett (18 points) made a layup with 47 seconds left to put South up for good and then following a steal, Webb added a free throw eight seconds later to end the scoring.

After turning the ball over with 20 seconds left, JCA got the ball back one more time but misfired on three 3-pointers during the final seconds.

The second half didn’t start well for the Angels, who fell behind, 38-30, after the Stars went on a 10-0 run. But Jnaya Walker (11 points, seven rebounds), who only scored two points in the first half, rattled off nine straight points to give JCA a 39-38 advantage; and it still led, 44-43, with a quarter to go.

JCA also received six points and 10 rebounds from Ty Battle, while Kaitlyn Williams added five points. All-tourney pick Dasia Evans had nine points and 10 rebounds for the Stars.

Despite turning the ball over seven times in the first quarter, JCA only trailed, 15-14, after the initial eight minutes. Things remained tight throughout the rest of the opening half as the Angels claimed a 30-28 lead at the break.

Although Ekhomu was held scoreless until only 1:11 remained in the second quarter, the Angels received eight points from Farrell and six points from Acosta during that half.