Game 31 – Marist 57, Bartlett 54

Marist has become one of the rare non-Tennessee teams to make the finals of the Ladies Classic after knocking off Bartlett in a 57-54 thriller in the final semifinal Friday.

Marist, from Atlanta, will take on Jackson Southside Saturday at 5 p.m. for the championship.

The Eagles of Marist trailed 52-51 with 1:25 left in the contest that was tight from the opening tip. With 48 seconds left, Hannah Faklaris broke free in the paint for a layup that put Marist in the lead for keeps at 53-52.

Bartlett had a missed shot and fouled Faklaris, but she failed to convert the free throws with 34 seconds left. But Bartlett squandered that chance when they turned it over on a jump ball with 25 seconds left.

An intentional foul was called on Bartlett and Abby Lindsay made two more free tosses and got the ball back due to the intentional call. Next up at the foul line was Kate Harpring, who made two more, and the lead was 57-52.

Bartlett never quit and got a quick layup by Dacarra Ward and called time with six seconds left and cut it to 57-54. Things got even more tense when Bartlett stole the inbounds and got off a last second shot by Kay Kay Sheffield that banged off the iron as the final horn sounded.

Harpring continued her high scoring ways with 26 points. Faklaris scored 14.

Bartlett got 13 from Carrington Jones and 12 from Shamari Hamlett.

Game Stats:

MARIST (57): Elder 1-1 0-0 3, Janki 1-6 0-0 2, Smith 3-4 1-2 8, Hannah Faklaris 6-8 2-4 14, Lindsay 1-5 2-2 4, Kate Harpring 11-14 4-5 26. TOTALS: 23-39 9-13 57.

BARTLETT (54): Carrington Jone 6-16 0-1 13, Williams 3-6 0-0 9, Sheffield 2-4 0-0 5, Rixter 2-7 0-0 4, Spates 2-3 1-3 5, Ward 1-3 0-0 2, Shamari Hamlett 2-8 7-7 12, Jones 2-3 0-1 4. TOTALS: 20-52 8-12 54.

3-Point Goals: MS—2 (Smith, Elder) BS—6 (Williams 3, Jones, Sheffield, Hamlett).