Holiday bragging rights were on the line as Baylor and Notre Dame squared off at Phifer Gymnasium Friday night.
The Lady Fighting Irish brought their home crowd to a frenzy to start as Mary Fillauer sank a game-tying 3-pointer while Claire Mullins soon after made the go-ahead put-back for a rare 48-44 triumph over the Lady Red Raiders. The win for Notre Dame, which won its eighth straight to improve to 9-3 overall, was its first victory over Baylor in girls' basketball this century.
Soon after the game Notre Dame players jumped up and down surrounding senior star point guard Kenzie Campbell who scored her 1,000th career point with a late free throw to ice the victory on a night she and sophomore forward Dayonna Perryman led the way with 16 points each.
"I had no idea," Campbell said of her milestone accomplishment. "None of us did. We ran to the locker room and they called us back out. We were just playing our game. Last year we had games cut short, so it never crossed my mind. We are focused on getting those wins. Points never mattered for me. I couldn't do any of this without my teammates."
The Lady Red Raiders Riley Oleksik scored 12 points and made a big 3-pointer late to cut the deficit to one. However, Campbell made four straight free throws to seal a big victory for Notre Dame.
"Sometimes you have to get past the name on the jersey," Lady Irish coach Jason Hill said. "You can't think someone is better than you because of the jersey they are wearing. Our girls were tough tonight and made big plays and stops down the stretch to get the job done."
Any hopes of a home sweep were extinguished in the fourth quarter of the boys' game as senior point guard Eli Sparkman helped Baylor pull away for a 51-38 win.
Sparkman had a pivotal strip at the top of the key and soon after made a no-look pass to Zane Restelli for the layup to go up by double figures, which ignited an 11-2 run with five minutes left to play.
The Red Raiders (6-4) received solid work on both ends from Al Peciulis who had nine points and 10 rebounds while Joao Rego had 13 points and three 3-pointers. Evan Haynie also played stout defense on a night Baylor was without a key starter in 6-foot-3 Cameron Sparks. Restelli had 12 points and was sharp defensively.
"This was a big game for us to play an opponent in town and show everyone who we are," Baylor coach Mark Price said. "Our guys were solid. We were patient on both ends of the court. Eli and Al really provided stellar leadership and our guys elevated their game with a key starter out for us."
Notre Dame's Tim Vaughn was strong in the defeat as he led all with 18 points.
BOYS' RESULTS
Arts & Sciences 74, Marion County 36: Evan Ramsey led a balanced Patriots scoring with 12 points while Skyler Wilson and Justin Brown each delivered 10 points. Ramsey came on strong after the break scoring 10 of his team's 28 points in the third quarter. CSAS improved to 11-2.
Soddy-Daisy 44, Grundy County 40: Senior point guard Zack Ryans continued his stellar play for the Trojans (8-4) as he led the way with 19 points. Grundy's Sam Parson made four 3-pointers and scored 20 points.
East Ridge 52, Sale Creek 39: Hasani Jackson scored eight of his team-high 13 in the second quarter while Tyree Smith and Devon Anderson added 11 and 10 points in the Pioneers victory. Bennett Wilson scored 14 of his game-high 16 points in the first quarter for Sale Creek.
Trion 83, Dalton Academy 36: Brandon Dover led three Bulldogs (2-5, 2-3) in double figures with 14 points in the Region 6-A public win, with Lucas Stoker adding 13 and Kham Tomlin 10.
Ridgeland 60, Gordon Lee 48: Judd Anderson scored nine of his 19 points in the first quarter to lead Ridgeland (3-5) to the nonregion win. Matthew Ramsey added 13 for the Panthers, with Hunter Holmes topping Gordon Lee with 12.
LaFayette 66, Sonoraville 50: Aidan Hadaway and Junior Barber scored 25 and 24 points, respectively, as the Ramblers improved to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in Region 6-AAA.
GIRLS' RESULTS
Soddy-Daisy 57, Grundy County 53: Melody Crawley caught fire for the Lady Trojans (6-4), nailing six 3-pointers on her way to a 19-point winning effort in the Battle at the Creek tournament. Jada Trimiar keyed the victory scoring 10 points in the third quarter.
East Ridge 30, Red Bank 27: The Lady Pioneers held off a strong fourth quarter comeback for a holiday tournament win in which Dy'hasia Hickman, Jaquala Reynolds and Nia Barnes combined for 21 points. Taya Guye scored a game-high 15 points and made half of Red Bank's six 3-pointers.
Trion 79, Dalton Academy 3: Kalie Dupree and Jenna Moseley scored 22 and 20 points, respectively, to lead the Lady Bulldogs (5-1, 3-0) to the Region 6-A public win.
Sonoraville 51, LaFayette 40: The Lady Phoenix improved to 5-5 and 2-3 in Region 6-AAA as Brynley Walraven scored a game-high 17 points and Erin Garland added 14. Mykeria Johnson led LaFayette with 12 points
Compiled by Patrick MacCoon and Lindsey Young. Contact MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon. Contact Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.