Lakeland Christian Academy’s Melissa Goss dices up the South Bend Trinity defense during LCA’s 41-26 win Thursday in the LCA Cougar Classic. (Photos by Mike Deak)

WINONA LAKE – Lakeland Christian Academy’s girls basketball tournament saw the hosts elevate itself with an early win, but run into a tough second half in game two that had the Lady Cougars eventually split its two games at Thursday’s LCA Cougar Classic girls basketball tournament.

LCA’s Maddie Paris looks for a teammate.

LCA’s girls started its 41-26 win over South Bend Trinity ice cold, trailing 12-6 after the first quarter and even prompting head coach Allison Kauffman to call a time out begging her team snap out of it.

They got the message.

LCA outscored the Titans 15-6 in the second quarter, led in large part to the handywork of Hope Fancil. The junior guard ignited the offense with six points, and fed others like Heather Plastow and Jessica Slone to key buckets.

The Academy’s defensive work in the third quarter broke the game open. Melissa Goss had consecutive steals, the first of which went back-to-back with a Brady Gross jumper and attached to a Fancil bucket that gave LCA a 34-24 lead. LCA wouldn’t allow a field goal the rest of the way.

“That first half, we came out a little lackidaisical, and just lacked a lot of desire,” stated Kauffman. “A home tournament in your first game, you want to come out with a little more than what we did. But to see them turn that around, that was very nice to see.”

LCA’s Hope Fancil drives the lane against South Bend Trinity.

Fancil would pace LCA with 17 points and five steals while Plastow came home with nine points and five boards. Goss had another workman effort with four points, five assists, five steals and three rebounds. Slone and Gross each had five boards.

Clare Hunsberger had 10 points for the Titans.

“Melissa is the head to our horse,” Kauffman said. “She may not score the most points, but she does everything else. Everything goes through her, and she is our vocal leader. Her heart and effort really helped pick the team up especially in that third quarter. We really needed that.”

Game two had Covenant break away from LCA in the third quarter, using a 15-8 bulge to separate enough in a 43-35 victory. Maria Nanninga scored eight of her 13 points in that third quarter. Nicki DeBoer led the Knights with 14 points. Janella Heerema and Katelyn Porte each finished with eight points.

Just four players found the scoring column for LCA, led by Fancil’s 19 points, six steals and four blocks. Goss would have another fantasy statline with nine points, seven steals, six assists and five rebounds. Slone would add five points and eight rebounds, but LCA would have problems turning the ball over, giving away the rock 20 times in the contest.

Scores from the girls tournament were:

Granger Christian 56, Clinton Christian 38
LCA 41, South Bend Trinity 26
Granger Christian 41, Calumet Christian 36
Covenant Christian 43, LCA 35
Clinton Christian 43, Calumet Christian 37
Covenant Christian 61, South Bend Trinity 14

Friday’s games will all take place at Grace College. The complete schedule, with awards to follow, is:

10 a.m. – Fifth place girls game: South Bend Trinity v. Calumet Christian
11:30 a.m. – Fifth place boys game: South Bend Trinity v. Granger Christian
1 p.m. – Third place girls game: LCA v. Clinton Christian
2:30 p.m. – Third place boys game: LCA v. Calumet Christian
4 p.m. – Girls championship game: Covenant Christian v. Granger Christian
5:30 p.m. – Boys championship game: Covenant Christian v. Clinton Christian

Lakeland Christian Academy’s Brady Gross looks for room to shoot over South Bend Trinity’s Clare Hunsberger.