Lady Flames’ defense get wins
“Going 3-2 is a heck of a lot better than what I thought it was going to be,” head coach Jerry English said. “We put two quality games together against two good opponents. It was really a fun Saturday.”
Bracken and Faith know each other well; they were in the same district last season.
English said Bracken had the same team from last season.
“They have size, depth and experience,” he said. “I think they felt like we would not beat them this year.”
Bracken took a 13-10 lead after the first quarter and 21-19 at halftime.
The coach used the break to regroup.
Then the Lady Flames took the court.
“It was the best quarter of basketball we’ve played,” English said.
Faith went on a 29-5 run to take a 48-26 lead at the end of three periods.
Once the game was out of reach, coaches substituted freely.
“It was a really good win,” English said.
The win against Midland Christian was even sweeter because Midland was expected to win the tournament, the coach said.
“They were very consistent,” he said.
Both teams began the contest by matching each other basket for basket.
Midland’s top two players got in foul trouble, and Faith took a 13-12 lead in the first period and extended it thanks to a 20-5 run in the second quarter, 33-17.
When it looked like Midland was going to make a run, Kendra Field was fouled and went to the line to shoot a one-and-one.
Coaches on the Midland Christian bench were furious. The officials gave them a technical, so Field hit four free throws. Because the technical, Faith was awarded possession of the ball and knocked down a three.
“That was the most pivotal thing,” English said. “I really think they thought they were still in the game.”
That propelled Faith to a 42-30 lead after three quarters.
The Lady Flames posts, Brooke Field and Breigh Gray, were able to control the boards.
“Our young posts just did great,” English said. “I was so proud of them.”
Field ended the game with 17 rebounds, while Gray had 10. Kendra Field, Brooke Field’s older sister, ended the contest with seven.
Faith was able to hit 11 of 14 free throws to ice the contest.
Kendra Field led all scorers with 29 points, including 10 of 14 from the free-throw line. Brooke Field added 11 points, followed by Katie Jung and Shiloh Reaves with four each, Deanna Hoover and Laura Lykken added three each, and Taylor Vaughn and Gray had two each.
“It was a really good win over a quality opponent,” the coach said. “Midland Christian is a (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) 5A state power and beat us two years ago in this same tournament. We really controlled the defensive rebounds and played some strong defense.”