ABILENE — Defensive stops have long been a key element in the success of the Jim Ned girls basketball team and heading into Friday’s 3A area round clash with Eastland, the Lady Indians had a key member of EHS to apply that tradition to. 

Eastland’s Mya Wesley, who entered the game as the top scorer in the Big Country at more than 24 points per game, was limited to only eight points in a 65-33 win by Jim Ned, which advances the Lady Indians to the Region I-3A quarterfinals where they will meet Comanche at a site and time to be determined. Immediately following Jim Ned’s win, Comanche advanced with a 73-41 win over Merkel in the nightcap of an area round doubleheader at Hardin-Simmons University. 

Lexi Wishert and Riley Grohman both scored a game-high 17 points, with Wishert connecting on five 3-pointers to lead Jim Ned (33-2), which took control of the game with a 19-5 first quarter and never looked back. 

Jayci Majors led Eastland (25-8) with 11 points, but Ned’s ability to slow Wesley proved important, resulting in a 16-point drop in production.