BELL BUCKLE, Tenn. – After an inspired first half against No. 2 seed Loretto (16-10, 6-2), the No. 3 seed Community Viqueens (14-13, 4-4) were unable to hold on after losing starting point guard, Mattie Maxey, to an apparent knee injury at the 2:35 mark of the second quarter in a collision with Sophie Weathers, falling by 15 points, 41-26, in Thursday’s District 9-AA semifinal.

“Yea, she [Maxey] was a big loss,” said Viqueens’ head coach Cody Pierce, “but we’ve got some players that came off the bench and they did a good job stepping in, we just didn’t play well in that third quarter. We played a little scared. We didn’t get to the rim like we normally do. Just were a little off. They were a physical team and it kinda changed how we played in the second half.”

After taking a 15-10 lead going into the halftime locker room and frankly looking like the better team outright, the Viqueens scored just two points in the third quarter with Maxey unable to return to the game. Loretto took full advantage with Ally Augustin scoring 12 of her game-high 20 points in the third period alone as the Lady Mustangs outscored Community, 21-2, and took a commanding 31-17 lead heading into the final frame. 

Sophie Weathers was held to just 10 points by Alyssa White inside, and White finished as Community’s leading scorer with eight points. Anna Haskins was held to just six points, but all six came in the first quarter alone. 

Early on, it was Community setting the tone despite having lost both prior matchups to the Lady Mustangs. The Viqueens took an 8-4 lead at the end of the opening period, but they looked to be the much quicker and more physical squad for the entire eight minutes. 

Community was able to carry that momentum into the second stanza as well, leading 13-8 with 2:42 left when Maxey collided with Weathers and crumpled down to the floor in obvious pain and holding her left leg. On replay, it was clear that Weathers – who also had to take a seat in some discomfort – stepped forward into Maxey with her right leg, prompting the collision. Despite this, no foul was called on the play, and the officials had to stop the game moments later and allow Maxey to get helped off the floor. 

Despite the Viqueens taking the 15-10 lead at the break, the mood had completely shifted inside The Stable. It was obvious Maxey was struggling, and despite returning for halftime shootaround and remaining on the bench in support of her teammates the entire second half, she was never able to re-enter the game. To Loretto’s credit, the Lady Mustangs ramped up the pressure defensively to take advantage of Maxey’s absence, holding  the Viqueens to just 11 points in the second half.

Both teams connected on just two three-pointers for the game, but Loretto went 9-of-13 at the free throw line while the Viqueens did not even register an attempt.

According to Cody Pierce, Maxey is a game-time decision for Saturday’s ‘Battle of Bedford’ against Cascade at 3:00 p.m.

The Viqueens fall to 14-13 overall.

COMMUNITY: A. White 8, A. Haskins 6, S. Pearson 5 (1), M. Hill 4, S. Flannagan 3 (1).

LORETTO: A. Augustin 20 (1), S. Weathers 10, A. Crosby 5 (1), J. Chance 4, K. Stutts 2.