The Fairfield Lady Eagles maintained their hold on the District 20-3A lead and a top five ranking with a pair of wins over the week at home and on the road as the teams have completed half of the district schedule.
Fairfield returned to the Johnson Activity Center to take on the Elkhart Lady Elks. Fairfield dominated all four periods in the 91-50 win.
Kaylee Williams scored six first period points and Delaney McGowan hit two from behind the arc. Williams added seven more in the second period Keke Alexander hit one shot and made her home at the free throw line, hitting four of six from the stripe. Fairfield led 48-15 at the half.
Aaliyah Nash and Williams added six points each in the second half when the game had long been decided. Jacelynn Schmidt paced the Lady Eagles in the second half with twelve points, and a total for the game at 18.
Ja’Maria Bass scored two and Simone Garrett added two more in the win.
Fairfield went to Anderson County to take on the Palestine Westwood Panthers. The Lady Eagles led throughout the contest, but the Lady Panthers put up a fight for most of the contest but fell late to the fifth ranked Lady Eagles 65-57.
The Lady Eagles jumped out to a quick lead and Lyla Huddleston hit two free throws to put Westwood ahead in the see-saw first period. Brackens hit a pair of three pointers, the second to end the first period and Fairfield took a 15-13 lead.
Westwood stayed close and forced some Lady Eagle turnovers. Williams was called for travelling at least a half dozen times during the game and Westwood scores kept the game close. Danika Aristide hit a pair of free throws to keep the game class. Fairfield paced the end of the period with an 8-0 run to take a 36-27 halftime lead.
Huddleston, playing with four fouls, never left the floor and hit a three pointer to keep the game within single digits and Alajah Henderson had several offensive rebounds and scores. Jacelynn Schmidt changed the pace of the game during the late first half run and she continued that into the second half. She had a pair of steals and scored one herself and passed to a teammate for another score. Fairfield stretched the lead to 54-41 heading into the fourth quarter.
Westwood began the final period with a 7-0 run led by Huddleston to close the gap to 54-48. A couple of times the Lady Panthers had the chance to get to within five, but the Lady Eagles changed the direction and pulled away to the 65-57 win, led by Schmidt and defensive skills of the Fairfield Lady Eagles.
Schmidt led the Lady Eagles with 19 points coming off the bench, Blayke Brackens scored 15 and Williams added 13. Lyla Huddleston led all scorers with 25 points and remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Fairfield leads the district with Buffalo a game back. Teague, Westwood and Groesbeck remain locked into a battle for playoff spots as the second half of district play resumes.
Fairfield will return to the Johnson Activity Center when the Teague Lady Lions come to do battle. The Lady Eagles will take to the road on Friday in Buffalo when the battle for the top two teams in District 20-3A do battle.
(Photos by Natalia V. Marsters)
