Playoff Update:  The Fairfield Lady Eagles Won the Regional Quarterfinals against Waco Conally Cadets on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. 

They head to Regional semifinals on Friday (and Saturday) against Silsbee.  Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. Friday, February 22, 2019 at Sam Houston State’s Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville, Texas.

 

Lady Eagles Earn Berth In Regional Quarterfinal

WITH DETERMINATION to get a shot is freshman #23 Emori Davis.

The Fairfield Lady Eagles took a pair of playoff wins and are in the third round of the playoffs.

Fairfield opened the playoff season against the Carthage Lady Bulldogs at Rusk High School. Fairfield opened a big lead and cruised to a 79-33 win.

The Lady Eagles had an easy first quarter with a 21-5 lead at the end of one. Braden Bossier and Josey Richardson turned outstanding defense into instant offense for an early 10-2 lead. Bossier and Ta’Yalla Simpson scored on five of the final six possessions in the first quarter.

Fairfield followed up a 21-point period with a 23-point second period. Belle Johnson hit a pair of shots and the rout continued. Bossier and Richardson scored on three of four trips down the floor and the Lady Eagles led 44-15 at the half.

The Lady Eagles continued the onslaught in the first moments in the second half. Breanna Dowell scored the first three trips down the floor, a couple on passes from Bossier. Dowell had a couple of first quarter fouls and sat most of the first half, but she came out scoring in the second with 14 third period points and the lead swelled to 64-23 lead, in route to the 79-33 win.

Bossier scored 20 points and had 14 rebounds and Dowell led all scorers with 21 points and ten rebounds.

A LAYUP BY #2 Jada Clark adds to the Eagle lead.

Fairfield advanced to the area round to take on the Venus Lady Bulldogs. Venus had upset the Robinson Lady Rockets 59-55 in the bi-district round. The game site was set for the K. and Ida Wolens Special Events Center on the campus of Navarro College.

Peyton Willey hit a three pointer from the baseline and the Lady Bulldogs took a 3-0 lead. Fairfield began a run with scores from Kayelee Adams, Jada Clark and Josey Richardson. The Lady Eagles ripped off the next 17 points to end the quarter with a 17-3 lead.

Johnson hit a shot to expand the lead to 19-3 before Allyson Leonard hit a three pointer to end the run with 6:25 remaining in the first half. Willey and Brooke Habeck scored consecutive baskets and the Lady Bulldogs closed the gap to 26-15 at the half.

The teams exchanged scores throughout the third period and Antanea Cassell and Abigail Dugan slowly cut into the lead. Richardson hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to re-establish a double-digit lead to 36-26 at the end of the third period.

Venus went on a small run to draw to within seven points, but the Lady Eagles continued to hold off a Lady Bulldog run. Richardson had a nifty pass to Dowell to lead 40-29 with five minutes remaining in the game. Habeck fouled out with four minutes left and Willey hit a three pointer and scored on a couple of drives to the basket to close the gap to 42-39.
Bossier hit one of two free throws with five seconds and Venus missed a shot at the end of the game and Fairfield advances to the regional quarterfinal.

Richardson scored ten points and Dowell added eight points in the win.
Fairfield advances to face the Waco Conally Cadets. Conally escaped with a win over Huntington 48-45 to get to the third round. The game returns to the K. and Ida Wolens Special Events Center at Navarro College on Tuesday night. The game is set for a 6:00 p.m. tipoff.

(Sports Photography by Melissa Lee)