The Fairfield Lady Eagles weathered a storm in the first half of the area round and earned a berth in the Region III semifinals with an overtime win Friday night in Corsicana over the Grandview Lady Zebras 51-39.
Fairfield opened the playoffs against the Franklin Lady Lions, a team that was in their district over the last two seasons. The game site at Leon High School was the backdrop for an impressive shooting display by the playoff proven Lady Eagles.
Jacelynn Schmidt scored early, and Emma Rekieta hit a three to give Franklin their first and only lead of the game. Fairfield hit seven of their final eight shots in the period and finished the period with a 9-0 run to lead 23-8. Schmidt, Kaylee Williams and Blayke Brackens each scored twice in the barrage of points to end the period for Fairfield.
The Lady Eagles hit their first four of the second period to build a bigger lead. Karoline Smitherman and Blake Lively hit shots early in the period to try and cut into the lead but they were trading shots throughout the first half. Keke Alexander and Jimilyah Nash closed out the period with scores and Fairfield held a 37-17 halftime lead.
The second half Schmidt scored eight more to lead all scorers with 18 points and Fairfield hit nine of 12 attempts and built a 31-point lead heading into the final period and would win the game 73-40, eliminating the Lions from the playoffs.
Brackens scored 14 points in the contest and Williams added 12 points and Fairfield moved on to take on the Grandview Lady Zebras Friday in Corsicana.
Fairfield took on a 30-win Grandview team and began with a slow start and fell behind by an extended number for the first time all season.
Savannah Hoskins hit four from long distance in the first quarter for 12 points. The Lady Eagles hit only two of 13 shots in the first period, both by Blayke Brackens and were down 18-4 following the first period.
The Lady Eagles made two of their first three in the second period and cut into the lead, bringing it down to 11. Jaci Abram and Williams scored off great passes into the paint and Rhett Ralstin scored later in the period. Jamie Snider hit the fifth three-pointer in the first half and matched the Lady Eagle total for the period. Fairfield went into the locker room down 28-14 at the half.
Fairfield had not scored that low of a total since ten points in the first half in the Alamodome in 2020 against Argyle, a game that the Lady Eagles would win in overtime.
Nash hit a three and Abram scored in the paint to cut into the lead to open the second half. Fairfield turned up the defensive heat and forced nine Zebra turnovers and only four shot attempts in the period. Fairfield did not get into offensive rhythm but scored 13 in the period and held Grandview to only four and cut the lead to 32-27 heading into the final eight minutes of regulation.
Schmidt had a steal and score early in the final period. Bella Clover scored on two straight possessions for four of the Zebra five fourth period points. Nash hit a three pointer with 2:16 remaining and Fairfield sent Grandview to the free throw line, and they made one of six from the stripe. Nash found Brackens for the short jumper with 45 seconds remaining to tie the score at 37-37. A late possession by each team was stopped and the game called for an overtime session.
Grandview had 37 points in regulation, only nine in the second half. The Fairfield defense held the Lady Zebras to three of 12 shooting and 15 turnovers.
Schmidt had a driving layup to open overtime and Fairfield led for the first time in the game 39-37. The Lady Eagles hit six of eight in overtime and held Grandview to one of eight and the 14-2 overtime clinic by the Lady Eagles sent them to the Regional semifinals with the 51-37 win.
Fairfield moves on to face the Hitchcock Lady Bulldogs, no stranger to Fairfield, at Conroe High School on Tuesday at 6:30pm.
