|
| LADY EAGLES VARSITY BASKETBALL player Bre West heads for the goal in first round action of the Fairfield Invitational tournament played at Johnson Activity Center. The Lady Eagles notched four wins to claim the championship title for the second consecutive year. |
Lady Eagles cagers hosted 15 schools for the annual event played Thursday-Saturday at Johnson Activity Center.
“My hat’s off to our kids,” FHS head coach Tommy Fadal says. “They are playing hard and I’m proud of them.”
The tourney wins give the Lady Eagles a 13-1 record so far this season.
Fairfield started its championship march against Kemp, taking a hefty 24-9 lead the first period and working to a 42-16 advantage at the half.
The Lady Eagles backed off some the second half, scoring 29 points and giving up 10, to win decisively 71-26.
“Everyone played great, especially after a loss,” Fadal says. The Lady Eagles suffered their first loss of the season earlier in the week to Bullard.
Scoring leader for the FHS quintet was Choicetta McMillian, 26 points including four 3-pointers. Also in double digits with 14 points was Courtney Morton.
Rounding out scoring were: Denise Brown, 9; Josh Reeves, 6; Raven Henry, 6; Bre West, 4; Joye McElroy, 2; Sarah Linton, 2; and Kirstie Brewer, 2.
The team shot 80 percent from the free throw line, making eight of 10 attempts.
Rebound leader was Miss Morton with eight, and Miss McMillian had seven boards.
Next on the bracket was Frankston and the Lady Eagles went to work directly to take an 18-12 lead the first period and 39-23 advantage at intermission.
Fairfield tallied 12 points in the third period and 15 in the fourth, giving up nine in each, to win 66-41.
“Everybody is contributing and that is a great thing,” Fadal reports.
Miss McMillian led scoring with 20 points and was joined in double digits by Miss Brown, 10 points.
Rounding out scoring were: Morton, 8; Linton, 8; Taylor Haynes, 7; McElroy, 7; Henry, 4; and West, 2.
From long range, Miss McMillian made three treys while Misses Brown and Linton made two each and Miss Haynes hit one.
The team shot 28.6 percent from the free throw line, making two of seven tries.
Rebound leader, with seven, was Miss McMillian, and Misses Morton and McElroy grabbed six each. The team got a total of 36 rebounds in the game.
Facing Marlin in the semi final game, the Lady Eagles maintained the same winning form, taking a 21-11 lead the first period and hitting for 23 points in the second period for a 44-25 advantage at half-time.
Fairfield slowed to only 16 points the second half but took the decision by a comfortable 60-41 margin.
“It wasn’t one of our better efforts,” the coach allows.
Reaching double digits were Miss McMillian, 22 points, and Miss Brown, 13 points.
Also scoring were: Morton, 8; McElroy, 7; Haynes, 5; Linton, 3; and West, 2.
Miss McMillian made four treys, out of five attempts, Miss Brown canned a pair and Misses Haynes and Linton also connected from long range.
The team shot 60 percent from the charity stripe, making six of 10 attempts.
The boards were controlled by Miss Haynes, who grabbed 10 rebounds, and Miss McMillian got seven. The Lady Eagles counted a total of 30 rebounds in the game.
Meeting Diboll in the championship, the FHS quintet had its hands full as they fell behind 10-20 the first period. The Lady Eagles rallied for 21 points in the second period to pull within two at the half, 31-33.
With the momentum, Fairfield tallied 24 points in the third period and 20 in the fourth, giving up a total of 28, to win 75-61.
Putting on a scoring display was Miss McMillian, who counted 41 points on the night, including an impressive 17 points on 20 free throws.
“What can you say about Choicetta? She is the most prolific basketball player I have ever coached,” Fadal says.
Rounding out scoring were: Brown, 9; McElroy, 9; Morton, 6; Linton, 6; Haynes, 3; and Brewer, 1.
The Lady Eagles shot 63 percent from the free throw line, making 27 of 43 tries.
Leading rebounder, with eight, was Miss McElroy.
Fadal reports that the team fell behind 4-16 early in the first period before getting on track.
“We had some great efforts,” the coach declares. “It was just a great effort to beat a great team.”