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For the third consecutive year, excluding 2020 when the tournament was a four-team round robin, the Helias Crusaders found themselves in the Joe Machens Great 8 Classic third-place game. And for the third consecutive time, the Crusaders walked away with a win.
Nate Brandt controlled the Fatima offense early, but the Comets spread the ball around as they pulled ahead. Fatima scored the first 11 points, and 18 of the first 21, in the fourth quarter to build a 58-46 win Thursday night against the Helias Crusaders in the semifinals of the Joe Machens Great 8 Classic at Fleming Fieldhouse.
It had been almost 29 minutes since Sam Lopez scored a point, but the Helias sophomore point guard stepped to the free-throw line with :31.8 on the clock, trying to put the Crusaders back in front. The first attempt nervously spun around the rim twice before falling through the net. The second attempt, to give Helias the lead, he swished it.
The bipartisan passage of the Respect for Marriage Act shows how far Americans have come in embracing LGBTQ rights. Blue Colorado with its deep-red pockets illustrates that journey.
It’s only five games into the season, but the Helias Crusaders have been in plenty of crunch-time situations already. They can add Saturday night to that list. “We made some big plays,” Helias coach Joe Rothweiler said after a 64-62 win against the Troy-Buchanan Trojans in the Tri-Lakes Shootout at Blair Oaks High School.