Most 1-5 teams might wilt when trailing by 20 points, but not Catonsville Wednesday night.

The Comets trailed by that margin with 6:01 remaining early in the fourth quarter against host Annapolis in the semifinal of the Capital City Basketball Classic.

Catonsville used a 21-7 run over the next 5:03 to trim the lead to six points.

The Comets couldn't get any closer, however, as Annapolis posted a 69-59 victory behind the performances of senior forward Jourdan Stickler (22 points) and junior guard Delaszo Smith (20).

The win advances Annapolis onto Thursday's championship game against Meade at 7 p.m.; Catonsville plays Cristo Rey Jesuit in the consolation final at 5 p.m.

Comets' first-year coach Matt Fannon said he was pleased with his team's intensity in the second half.

"We could have just packed it up and called it a game," said Fannon, whose team was led by the effort of Jamal Tyson (15 points, 6 rebounds). "But I am glad they kept fighting and made a game of it."

After Catonsville pulled to within 65-59 with 59 seconds remaining, the Panthers (5-1) hit four consecutive free throws to derail the comeback bid.

With the Comets trailing for the entire game and by large margins often, they looked to the three-pointer. But Catonsville struggled from the perimeter, hitting only three of 16 treys.

"I wasn't preaching to shoot it," Fannon said. "I would rather attack their gaps inside and get points in the paint. I think that's what happened toward the end. Sometimes, when we get down, they feel like we need to make it up quickly."

Tyson wasn't the only Comet in double figures. James Baker (12 points), Sean Lipscomb (11), Deniko Carter (11) and Daniel Thompson (10) also did that.