The top ranked Fairfield Lady Eagles successfully defended their tournament title in the 2022 Fairfield Invitational Tournament this past weekend. The Lady Eagles have advanced to the state tournament the last three seasons and look to defend another tournament title with a defense of their state championship in San Antonio.
Fairfield began pool play on Thursday with a 73-25 win over the Bosqueville Bulldogs. The Lady Eagles built a 42-18 lead at the half and put the game away early. Senior, and University of North Texas signee, Shadasia Brackens scored 17 of her game high 28 in the first half. Freshman Kaylee Williams added 16 points in the opening game of the tournament.
The Lady Eagles first day night cap game was the Breckenridge Lady Bucs. It was the first appearance by Breckenridge in the Fairfield Invitational but the Lady Eagles took the same dominating win. Fairfield held a 43-16 halftime lead behind ten first half points by senior McKinna Brackens, recent signee for University of Nevada-Las Vegas. She would finish with a game high 19 points in the 70-32 win.
Freshman guard Blayke Brackens scored eight points and sophomore Jimilyah Nash added seven points in the win.
Fairfield took a dominating 71-16 win over Waxahachie Life to wrap up pool play to move onto the gold bracket round. Avery Thaler scored 14 point in the first quarter and Nash added eight more and the Lady Eagles led 31-8 at the end of the first and the put the game in cruise control.
The Lady Eagles took on Mount Vernon in the Gold Bracket semifinal and won the game again in dominating fashion 56-19. Shadasia Brackens scored 17 points and Thaler added 12 points and McKinna Brackens finished in double figures with ten points.
The tournament final had the matchup with the state ranked Madisonville Lady Mustangs. The Lady Mustangs proved to be a pesky opponent through the first period. Fairfield maintained a 14-13 lead and held the Lady Eagles to under 30% shooting in the period. Nash and Shadasia Brackens combined for ten of the 14 points and Shaffer added six for Madisonville. She would only score eight in the game and was held scoreless in the second half.
Fairfield hit four of their first five in the second with crisp passing and moving the ball downcourt with surgical precision. McKinna Brackens hit a couple of short jumpers and finished with a few assists that led to baskets for the Lady Eagles. Fairfield put the defensive clamps on the Lady Mustangs in the fourth period, outscoring Madisonville 15-4 in the final frame and won the game 61-38 to claim the tournament championship.
Shadasia Brackens led all scorers with 21 points and added 14 rebounds. Avery Thaler had ten points and McKinna Brackens added 15 points.
Fairfield continues district play before the holiday. They defeated Teague 68-9 in the district opener last week.
(Photos by Payton Botelho)
GIRLS
Pool A
Fairfield 73 Bosqueville 25
Bosqueville 47 Waxahachie Life 35
Fairfield 70 Breckenridge 32
Breckenridge 51 Waxahachie Life 41
Fairfield 71 Waxahachie Life 16
Bosqueville 30 Breckenridge 26
Pool B
China Spring 46 Teague 22
Madisonville 52 Teague 36
Madisonville 45 Mount Vernon 31
Mount Vernon 54 China Spring 44
Mount Vernon 51 Teague 30
Madisonville 58 Teague 29
Gold Bracket Semifinals
Madisonville 62 Bosqueville 32
Fairfield 56 Mount Vernon 19
Gold Bracket Consolation
Bosqueville 44 Mount Vernon 36
Silver Bracket Semifinals
Teague 47 Breckenridge 38
China Spring 46 Waxahachie Life 21
Silver Bracket Championship
China Spring 39 Teague 36
Silver Bracket Consolation
Breckenridge 36 Waxahachie Life 25
