The Fairfield Lady Eagles were taken to overtime in the final of the Fairfield Invitational Basketball Tournament held at the Johnson Activity Center. Bryan Rudder took the game and tournament trophy with an 88-81 victory.
Fairfield has cruised through the non-district schedule with the only loss to Boerne Champion in an earlier tournament and they easily won their pool in the Fairfield tournament. They defeated China Spring 64-45 to open the weekend of basketball. Freshman McKinna Brackens 19 to lead the Lady Eagle attack and Emori Davis hit five three pointers, to finish with 15 points in the win. Fairfield had their second pool game turn into a lopsided affair early over the Diboll Lady Jacks 75-21. The Lady Eagles jumped out to a 27-2 lead in the first period, Breyunna Dowell putting eight of her game high 13 in the first quarter. Braden Bossier scored 12 and freshman post Shadasia Brackens added 11 points.
The Lady Eagles moved into bracket final in the gold division and the semi-final was set for a Lady Eagle contest against the West Lady Trojans. Bossier scored ten points in the first half and Jarahle Daniels and Davis scored two three pointers each and Fairfield had a comfortable 32-18 halftime lead. The Fairfield defense kept the pressure on and used the two platoon with some minor adjustments to scenarios and finished the night with a 70-40 win.
Fairfield entered Saturday afternoon in the tournament final against the Bryan Rudder Lady Rangers. Each team began the contest with one loss on the season and was a great test for the Lady Eagles. Tianna Mathis and Keaundra Kelly helped push Rudder to an early 12-0 lead. Mathis had a shot and was fouled and the Rudder defense forced 13 first period turnovers from the Lady Eagles. Deondra Young scored seven points in the period and the Lady Eagles got seven from Davis but Fairfield trailed 25-16.
The Lady Eagle offense came to life in the second period and it was triggered by the defensive pressure. Dowell put back misses on three consecutive possessions and would score eight in the period. Davis hit a pair of three pointers in transition, the second tying the game at 40-40 and then taking the lead on a Jada Clark free throw. The Lady Eagles scored 31 in the period and took a 47-42 lead into the half.
Following an even third quarter, Fairfield began to build a lead. Bossier scored eight in the fourth but the Lady Eagles struggled from the charity stripe and committed 25 turnovers through three and a half quarters. Rudder took a lead on a Asani McGee short jumper and a Mathis fast break score. In the final moments, with Fairfield trailing 74-70, a technical foul was called against Rudder. Kayelee Adams hit both free throws and cut the lead to 74-72 with 12 seconds remaining and the Lady Eagles in possession. The pass inside to Bossier produced a lay in basket and the game went to overtime tied at 74-74.
Mathis scored four quick points for the Lady Rangers and Bossier scored a couple to keep pace. Fairfield hit only one of four free throws in overtime and Rudder made four. Fairfield could not get closer than three and the Rangers claimed the tournament title with an 88-81 win in overtime.
