The Fairfield Lady Eagles led the state final for seven seconds, but it was enough to claim the 4A state championship over 5-time champion Argyle before a capacity crowd at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Jada Clark had a steal from Argyle scorer and SMU signee Rhyle McKinney and rushed up the right side and hit the shot off glass and was fouled. She hit the foul shot to lead for the first and only time on the night 40-37 with seven seconds remaining in overtime. Argyle answered with a foul called on Clark with a shade over two seconds remaining and she was awarded three free throws and a chance to send the game into a second overtime.
McKinney hit the first two free throws and put the score at 40-39, but the final free throw hit off the front of the rim, she collected the rebound and missed the final attempt for the win and the Lady Eagles in Freestone County swarmed the floor in victory. Many argue that McKinney missed the third free throw intentionally to catch Fairfield off guard.
The game occurred with a semifinal win over Dallas Lincoln 76-51, when the Lady Eagles dominated the Tigers attempts to run the floor.
“We will take any win at any level, but when you get two in the state tournament over two teams with the resumes they had, you have to feel pretty special. Their experience cannot be matched but our team matched the intensity and desire to win,” stated head coach Sally Whitaker after the title game.
Argyle guards McKinney and Brooklyn Carl were named to the all-tournament team. Braden Bossier and Jada Clark were also named to the team. Freshman McKinna Brackens with 10 points in the semifinal and 15 in the final was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
