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JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

MARBLE FALLS — The Faith Academy girls basketball team is one win away from a return to the state tournament.

The Lady Flames (27-4) scorched Abilene Christian High School 57-29 in the area round of the playoffs of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools on Feb. 22.

Faith will meet the winner of Muenster Sacred Heart-DeSoto Canterbury game in a regional final Feb. 25 with site and time still to be determined.

In the opening quarter, the Lady Flames rolled to a 7-0 lead only to have the Lady Panthers trim it to 11-8 with two minutes left.

Faith responded with an 8-2 run for a 19-10 advantage highlighted by three 3-pointers by junior guard Taylor Denton. She hit the last one right before the first-period horn sounded.

A low-scoring second period gave Faith a familiar result. The Lady Flames outscored Abilene Christian 8-2 for a 29-12 lead at the half.

Faith continued to apply defensive pressure throughout the second half, outscoring the Lady Panthers 28-17 in 16 minutes.

Denton paced Faith with 25 points, including six 3-pointers.

Lady Flames head coach Jerry English complimented her effort, noting she missed three days of practice because of an injury.

“She had a good bounce to her step,” he said. “When they miss three days, you don’t know (physically how ready they are.) She looked quick. I thought defensively she did a good job.”

Senior forward Joanna Piatek added 13 points followed by senior forwards Kristen Cherry and Juliette Fisher with six each and Sierra Brinkley with two.

jfierro@thepicayune.com