After the Brunswick loss to open the Wildcat Classic, the Lady Chiefs took on Pilot Grove on the left side of the bracket. Santa Fe would prove too much for the Lady Tigers in this one, rolling to a 45-29 decision. The opening quarter netted 9 points for Santa Fe and 5 for Pilot Grove. Freshman Tynlee Koch hit a three and added a bucket, and Elise Michael, and Abbi Mueller also produced scores in the frame.

In Q2, the Lady Chiefs surged ahead further, with Mia Lark doing most of the damage with 6 points in the quarter, and at halftime SFHS was up 25-11 over the Tigers.

Koch drained a pair of threes in the third period, and Coach Austin Hon’s ball club salted the game away in the 4th by matching the comeback attempt by the Lady Tigers to advance on to the consolation prize game on Saturday against host school Slater. Final scoring against Pilot Grove: Mueller 10, Koch 15, Dierking 2, Lark 10, Fitzwater 4. Pilot Grove was led by Milly Waller with 8.

The Slater game closed out the tournament and January as well on 1-31-26. After a 13 to 9 opening quarter, Santa Fe led 20-15 at halftime. Koch had 5, Mueller 1, Dierking 6, Lark 4, and Fitzwater 4 at the intermission.

After the strategy sessions at the break, Michael added a bucket, and Koch stroked a three, and Q3 ended 30 to 23 in favor of the Red and Black attack.

The 4th quarter is where Santa Fe truly distanced themselves from the Lady Wildcats. Buckets by Mueller, Fitzwater, Lark, and a pair of tres by Koch led to SFHS pulling away for the 44-29 win to close out the Classic, and capture the Consolation side victory. Final scoring: Koch 14, Michael 2, Mueller 5, Vandiver 2, Dierking 6, Lark 7, Fitzwater 8. Slater was led by Kaylee Boling with 8.

The ladies then took on a tough Lone Jack team in Alma on Tuesday night. This was the first meeting with the Lady Mules this year. Lone Jack was a Final Four squad last season, taking third place in Class 3. The Lady Chiefs fell behind after one by the count of 17-10. This proved to be a pivotal frame as the rest of the quarters ended with a mere point or two difference. Koch had 5 and Dierking added 4 points in the opening period. Q2 came and went with the Lady Mules leading at the break 27-18, with SFHS playing almost an even 2nd quarter with the visitors. Lark added 4 in the frame and Fitzwater got to the line sinking both freebies.

In the 3rd quarter Santa Fe kept pace again but was unable to cut into the Lone Jack advantage, with a score of 40-30 after three periods of play. Koch had 5 of those points, including a three pointer. In the 4th, LJHS once again traded buckets with Santa Fe posting 15 points to 14 from the home team. Lone Jack took the win in a varsity sweep of the night, 55-44 in the girl’s contest. The loss drops the record to 13-7 overall (5 and 2 in conference). Final scoring: Michael 2, Mueller 3, Koch 10, Dierking 8, Lark 15, Fitzwater 6. Lone Jack had three players in double figures and was led by Rylee Shull with 18.