The Fairfield Lady Eagles showed just how dominating a three-time state finalist can be with three dominating wins to hold a two-game lead at the midway point of the district games.
The Lady Eagles first visited Elkhart to take on the Lady Elks. Elkhart began slowly and the Lady Eagles ripped off the first 31 points in the game and pitched a first period shutout. Jimilyah Nash scored ten points in the period all 14 points in the first half. Freshman Kaylee Williams hit a three in the period, as did McKinna Brackens.
Fairfield slowed the pace in the second period and led 45-5 at the end of the half. Avery Thaler scored five points and Shadasia Brackens scored six in the lopsided first half. The Lady Eagles took the second half 27-6 in the 77-11 win.
Each player in uniform scored for Fairfield. Nash had 14 and Shadasia Brackens scored 10. McKinna Brackens added 12 points and Thaler scored ten. Williams added eight points, Nelms hit two free throws, Blayke Brackens score six, Jaci Abram tossed in three points, and Addison Posey hit a three pointer and finished with seven. Lillie McBean hit two free throws in the win.
Fairfield returned to the Johnson Activity Center to take on the Westwood Panthers. The Lady Eagles put on their normal show and allowed a first quarter basket and then ripped off the remaining points in the game on the way to an 88-2 final score. The first 35 points came in the first period, ten by Shadasia Brackens, eight by Kaylee Williams and six by Avery Thaler. The 12 by Shadasia Brackens in the first period were the only points she would score in the game.
Fairfield would score 53 points in the final three period and not allow a single point. Blayke Brackens would lead all scorers with 16 points and Thaler added 14 points. Jaci Abram put up double figures with 12 points in the win.
The Lady Eagles added a third game for the week with a make up game in Franklin. The Lady Lions cancelled the game a couple of weeks ago when a coach had some health issues and the game was played on Saturday, but the result was an 87-31 win.
The Lady Eagles jumped out to a 14-3 lead sparked by a pair of three-pointers by Nash and McKinna Brackens. Thaler and Shadasia Brackens scored in the period, and they would force seven first period turnovers by Franklin. Hailey Fannin hit a three pointer and Karaline Smitherman added one late in the period to try and keep the game within ten and they trailed 23-12 at the end of the first period.
Shadasia Brackens broke open the second period with five quick points and Nash added a score on the way to a 13-2 run in the first couple of minutes. McKinna Brackens used two crisp passes to lead to scores and then received one on a pass from Shadasia Brackens. Emma Rekieta and Fannin hit three pointers in the period, but they could only score ten in the second and trailed 48-22 at the half.
Fairfield would hold the Lady Lions to nine points in the second half. The Lady Eagles scored 39 in the half and won the game 87-31. Shadasia Brackens led the way with 19 points and McKinna Brackens added 17. Nash added 13 points and Thaler scored 14 points in the dominating win.
The Fairfield Lady Eagles lead District 20-3A standings with a 7-0 record at the midpoint of the district season. Franklin is two games back of Fairfield at 4-2 and Teague and Mexia have identical 4-3 records. Following the four potential playoff teams are Elkhart, Groesbeck and Buffalo who are a staggering three games back of putting themselves back in the playoff hunt. Elkhart is in last at 0-7.
Fairfield will travel to Teague on Tuesday and then host Buffalo on Friday.
(Photos by Payton Botelho)
