SAN ANTONIO — Through the first two quarters of Friday’s Class 3A Division I state championship game, the Jim Ned Lady Indians handled the basketball flawlessly against Fairfield, committing no turnovers before the break.
That number jumped with the outset of the second half, however, and helped the Lady Eagles (33-6) to a come-from-behind 50-44 win in overtime at the Alamodome.
Blayke Brackens had 17 points and six rebounds, while Jaci Abram and Jacelynn Schmidt added 12 points each to lift Fairfield (33-6), which took its third state title with the win. Brackens, who hit a game-tying shot at the buzzer to send the game into overtime, was named as the game’s MVP.
ROBINSON — The Abilene Christian girls basketball team saw its unlikely run to the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Class 3A state championship game end with a hard-fought loss to top-ranked Waco Live Oak Classical, falling 47-38 in the title tilt at Waco Robinson High School.
SAN ANTONIO — After battling their way through five playoff games, including tough matchups with Westbrook, Garden City, Hermleigh and Borden County, the Eula girls were mentally ready for Thursday’s Class 1A Division I state title game against Broaddus. 
CHINA SPRING — Gracee Cooley drained a pair of free throws with 0.3 seconds remaining Tuesday to fuel the Jim Ned girls to a thrilling 40-38 win over Winnsboro in the Class 3A Division I state semifinals and help the Lady Indians to their first state championship game since defeating Poth for the Class 2A title in 2008.
ABILENE — A quick glance at the stat sheet reveals what helped the Eula Lady Pirates rally to defeat Borden County 51-44 in Tuesday’s Class 1A DI state semifinal at Wylie High School. 
Munday’s Caisen Lee isn’t the first freshman to whom we’ve given our Big Country Preps Player of the Week Award. But during the basketball playoffs, it is indeed a rare occurrence. 
LUBBOCK — Not since 2012 had perennial girls basketball power Jim Ned captured a regional championship — a span of 13 years that saw the Lady Indians reach nine regional tournaments with three losses in championship games and six others in the semifinals. Toss in two regional quarterfinal losses and one in the area round and you have a remarkable run of success that was usually capped by an annual regional heartbreak. 
STAMFORD — Entering their first regional semifinal in 24 years, the Coahoma Bulldogettes were optimistic about Wednesday’s matchup with Wichita Falls City View. 
For two years, Stamford’s Emma Follis has been one of our area’s elite softball players, both as a pitcher and a hitter.