The Fairfield Lady Eagles have dominated the district and now is the time when the games build to the goal at hand, a trip to the Alamodome and another state title berth.
Steady as she goes is Lady Eagle #15, Essence Watkins, as she puts the ball in the baseket. (Photo by Ayden Peters)
Fairfield led Franklin by a game and hosted the Lady Lions for the top spot in the district race. The Lady Eagles left the floor with their second 40-point win to clinch the district.
The Lady Eagles started quick with a McKinna Brackens lay up and score for the lead, and then they jumped into full court pressure.
Franklin matched the score with a Hawkins basket that tied the score at 2-2. Breyunna Dowell scored off of a missed shot and Franklin answered to tie the score again. The Lady Eagles would score the next 20 points in the game to blow the contest open early.
Dowell had a steal and passed to Shadasia Brackens and Jarahle Daniels scored on a couple of breakout movements. Dowell and Daniels teamed up more in the period and the Lady Eagles led 24-7 at the end of one.
Daniels hit a three pointer from the corner early in the second period. Shadasia Brackens added a another from long distance. Emori Davis added a pair of three pointers, which was the bulk of the scoring in the second. Fairfield had a big first half with a 45-21 lead.
The Lady Eagles continued the defensive pressure that led to points in a fast pace. Daniels had a steal and pass to Shadasia Brackens. Hood added a three pointer for the Lady Lions and then Daniels hit McKinna Brackens for a score. Brackens had a quick steal and another score. Shadasia Brackens added a three pointer to extend the lead to 54-24 early in the third period. Thaler and other reserves saw some time in the third and the Lady Eagles had a 65-28 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
The reserves took over the final period Fairfield won the game and the District 20-3A title 83-43 over Franklin.
The district game on Friday was a road trip to the Hopkins Activity Center in Crockett. Fairfield jumped out to a 26-0 lead late in the first quarter on pressure defense with offense at high octane. Dowell and Daniels and the Brackens ladies dominated the scoreboard, and the Lady Bulldogs could not make it across the mid court stripe. Crockett fired up long three-point attempts that produced long rebounds and put Fairfield in the running game quickly.
The Lady Eagle reserves took over in the second period and maintained the lead into the halftime break. Essence Watkins hit a short jumper and a couple of foul shots. She added another score with a foul shot and dominated the first half with a 39-14 lead.
The Fairfield starters returned to the court for the beginning of the second half and played the first three minutes. Daniels had a steal and a pass to McKinna Brackens for a score. Watkins had a score off a missed shot and entered double figure scoring for the night. Jenny Pina had a couple scores when the reserves returned. Fairfield outscored the Lady Bulldogs 18-2 in the third and extended the lead to 59-16.
Starters returned for the final tune up of the week for a couple of minutes in the fourth period. They maintained the stellar play, but the reserves would on the night. Watkins scored eight in the fourth period and finished leading all scorers with 22 points on for the evening. Emori Davis added 14 and Pina had a double-digit night with 10 points in the 91-21 win.
The Fairfield Lady Eagles will have a busy week ahead with a Saturday warm up game at the Johnson Activity Center. They will host the A&M Consolidated Lady Tigers at 1pm. They will makeup their district game at Teague on Monday evening at 5pm and then begin the playoff run at Bryan Viking Gym with a bi-district matchup with the Cameron Lady Yoe.
(Photos by Ayden Peters)
