Hiland shooting guard Noelle Yoder played like she just had a huge weight taken off her shoulders.

She did.

Hours earlier, the Bowling Green recruit received results from an MRI that confirmed she did not tear her MCL or Meniscus during a game last week against Malvern. The test showed a sprain, with the best remedy time off.

Time off, however, was not an option. Not, at least, during Classic in the Country VII.

"I knew I'd be fine," Yoder said with a grin.

She was more than fine.

Noelle Yoder stunned a near sold-out crowd, scoring 21 points, Hilary Weaver added 19 points, and Hiland brushed off a loss to Potter's House Academy in its first CitC VII game, beating Division I giant Mason, 65-52, in the event finale at the Perry Reese Jr. Community Center.

"Noelle will be hurting and sore tomorrow. But during the game, some of those kids get 'The Look' and they just play," Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said.

Yoder hit a pair of 3-pointers, including one from 23-feet out to ignite a 12-4 run that turned a 4-point game after three quarters into a blowout.

Yoder passed on credit to her teammates.

"Everybody - it didn't matter if they were a freshman or a senior - who stepped on the floor made contributions," the senior said.

The 5-foot-7 senior had 21 points off a solid 9 of 19 shooting, including 3 of 8 from 3-point range for Hiland, (11-1), which rebounded from a cold shooting first half to shoot 52 percent (13 of 25) in the second and 39 percent overall (21 of 54).

"She's a stud. She is a player. She is a basketball player," said Mason coach Rob Matula, praising Yoder on her game.

Kayla Lamotte had 21 points and seven rebounds and Kayla McDowell added 16 and five for the Comets (7-5), who got limited offensive looks thanks to the Lady Hawks' stingy defense.

Mason shot well (52 percent on 21 of 38 shooting), but was forced into 25 turnovers and wasn't able to get the number of shots it needed to hang with Hiland.

Matula said Hiland simply played good basketball.

"I'll give credit where credit is due. They played a better game with a better brand of basketball," the Comets coach said.

Before the CitC was over, Schlabach said Hiland needed to "beat a really good team." The Lady Hawks made sure that happened.

"Saturday [against Potter's House] we felt good about how we played, but lost," the Hiland coach said. "Tonight, we couldn't do that. We needed a signature win for this group, a confidence builder. Playing well and losing tonight wouldn't have been the same as it would on Saturday."

Weaver had eight assists to accompany her 19 points.

Yoder scored on a nifty baseline drive to break-up a poor shooting first quarter and put Hiland in front 8-4. Lamotte responded with back-to-back drives of her own to tie the game at 8-all.

Regan Miller and Weaver each hit a pair of foul shots to put the Lady Hawks up 4 (12-8), but Sarah Hunter scored on a pretty drive with 3 seconds to go to pull the Comets to 12-10 after one quarter.

Lamotte and Destinee Henton each had buckets, and Mason took a 20-17 lead midway through the second quarter.

Hiland swiftly answered back.

Megan Hall had five points, including a lucky 3-pointer that banked in, and Yoder scored on an off-balance drive, sparking a Hiland 11-2 run that span 2:12 seconds and gave the Lady Hawks a 28-22 cushion at halftime.

Weaver dished to Miller for a backdoor layup to start an 11-4 run in the third quarter and then finished off the tear with an off-balance layup off a Jessica Stutzman steal, putting Hiland up 44-32 with 2:02 left.

Mason was down, but not done.

Lamotte hit a long jumper, and McDowell scored on consecutive drives to pull the Comets to 44-38 after three quarters.

Yoder hit a 3-pointer, and McKenzie Miller dove for a loose ball and kicked out to Weaver for an easy layup, pushing the Lady Hawks ahead 49-40 with 6:43 remaining.

Weaver said Hiland's defense definitely fed its offense.

"Defense has been a big focus for us this year," the Lehigh University signee said. "… Our defensive mentality really came along this weekend. I'm really proud of our efforts."

McKenzie Miller and Arrianna Schrock had buckets, and Yoder hit a big 3-pointer, expanding Hiland's lead to a comfy 56-41.

The Comets battled, but the Lady Hawks never let-up. This Classic win was all theirs.

"This is a great opportunity for our kids to play in this environment," Schlabach said. "Unless you are in a state final, it's hard to match this atmosphere."