The Fairfield Lady Eagles are once again state champions following a 50-44 overtime victory over the Jim Ned Lady Indians on Friday, Feb. 28, at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
“I’m just thankful. I think our kids showed everybody how resilient they are and how hard they work. They just don’t take no for an answer,” Coach Sally Whitaker said following the state championship game. “I’m really proud of them. It was definitely a team win. I am just so happy for them.”
The Lady Eagles extended what most would call a dynasty with their fifth trip to the state tournament in six years – and their third title in that span. They also won in 2020 and 2022.
“This win has got to be at the top. I know in 2020, we had a dramatic win as well. But, with what these girls have gone through this year and playing the level of opponents they played all season, especially in the playoffs,” Whitaker said. “Being down the whole game and just fighting and clawing and figuring out how to get it tied. Once we went into overtime, I feel like we had the momentum and our kids knew it. It was definitely, probably, my favorite of the three we managed to win down here.”
Blayke Brackens etched her name in Lady Eagles lore with a jump shot that put the Lady Eagles within two, 42-40, with 20 seconds to play in regulation. After the Lady Eagles forced a turnover Brackens nailed a buzzer-beater to send the game into overtime.
“I knew I was about to get the ball so I just wanted to make the shot,” Brackens said after the game. “As far as the resilience for our team, we knew what we had to do when we came down here. At halftime, we were down by six and we were going to come out and do what we had to do to win.”
Brackens then gave Fairfield the lead for good with a bankshot a few seconds into the OT period. The Lady Eagles continued the defensive pressure and forced three turnovers (steals by Jimilyah Nash and KeKe Alexander) that led to free throws, one by Nash and two by Brackens.
With 1:33 to play in the overtime period, Fairfield led 47-42.
The Lady Indians cut the score to 47-44 with 1:17 to play, but Fairfield shut them out the rest of the way, making 3-of-6 free throws to put the game away.
The final five minutes of the game proved Head Coach Sally Whitaker’s description of her team following the state semifinal win over West Oso – resilient.
The Lady Eagles found themselves down 8-5 after the first quarter and down by six points, 21-15, heading into halftime.
Things started coming together for Fairfield in the third quarter, as they cut the Lady Indians’ lead to two points.
Jaci Abram came alive for the Lady Eagles, scoring six of her 12 points in the third quarter. Kaylee Williams made her mark with a steal and fast break for a buzzer-beater to bring her team within two at 31-29.
The Lady Eagles regained the lead early in the fourth quarter, and regained the lead at 38-37 on two Jacelynn Schmidt free throws. Schmidt made 8-of-9 free throws in the game.
A three-pointer by the Lady Indians gave them a lead at 40-38, and two free throws giving them a 4238 lead with 36 seconds remaining in regulation could have doomed a less resilient team.
Brackens led all scorers with 17 points, while Abram and Schmidt were also in double figures with 12 each. Williams finished with 5 points; Nash, 2; and Alexander and Kole Brackens, 1 each.
Mitchell Pate contributed to this story.
