MOBILE – The Daphne Lady Trojans defeated Mobile Christian 55-35 Friday to advance to the championship of the Leopard's home Christmas tournament Saturday.

But the young Daphne team ran into the fourth-ranked 5A team in the state in the Faith Academy Rams and fell 80-51. Daphne suffered an even greater loss, however, as starting point guard GiGi Farley was diagnosed with a season-ending shoulder injury prior to the tournament.

"I'm just proud of these girls, these kids," DHS coach Denise Grooms said. "They could have folded. They could have quit Friday without GiGi, but they stepped up, everybody. Especially, Tiarra (Foster), my senior, my only senior. She came in here Friday and did a great job for us."

Foster's 16 points Friday was almost the difference in the Lady Trojans 20-point win.

On Saturday, the 12-1 Rams dominated the boards, but DHS was never intimidated. Faith grabbed a 12-0 lead to start, but a three-point play by Sierra Patterson, a pair of three pointers by Amber Yelding and a trey by Amanda Patton brought Daphne back into the game.

But Faith's big center and tournament most valuable player Aisha Hudson's 22-point, 10-rebound performance kept the Rams' margin in double digits the rest of the way.

DHS was led by Yelding with 14, Samantha Samry with 12 as Patterson, Patton and Brittany McConico each added eight. Outside shooting went well for DHS despite a relentless man-to-man by Faith. Samry and Yelding had a trio of treys and Patton two from outside the arc. Yelding was also named to the all-tournament team with Hudson and Faith's Tityana Haywood.

On Friday, Yelding had 14 against the Leopards who are ranked seventh in 2A. MCS fell in the bronze game to 4A cross-town rival UMS-Wright in a close one 43-39.

Daphne (7-6) returns to the court Jan. 6 to host Baldwin County High in a 6A Area 4 matchup.