St. Vincent Pallotti High girls’ basketball fell short in its quest of capturing the Bulls Holiday Invitational championship, falling to host Bullis Prep, 53-26, Sunday afternoon in Montgomery County. Lynne Belton scored 17 points for Bullis, which pulled away in the second half.
Bullis went on a 20-3 surge in the third quarter, turning a 23-17 lead into 43-20 entering the final quarter. Tiffany Padgett had eight points and four rebounds for Pallotti (6-3 overall), which reached the title game with victories over Mercersburg Academy (PA) and Sidwell Friends (D.C.).
Pallotti held Mercersburg scoreless in the second and third quarters, en route to a 75-12 demolition in Friday’s opening round. Eleven players scored, led by Tiffany Padgett’s 11 points and six rebounds and Emily Faulkner with finished with 10.
In Saturday’s semifinals, Pallotti outscored Sidwell Friends, 19-6, in the third quarter to break away from a 30-28 halftime advantage. Padgett had 11 points and nine rebounds, and Mariah Hankton added 10.
Pallotti next plays at the Diamond State Classic in Delaware next week. The Panthers play Hodgson Tech (DE) in the first round of the New Castle Insurance bracket Dec. 28.
