Sandiettes Take Fairfield Tourney Title

Grapeland Defeats Fairfield in Championship, 49-35

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

FAIRFIELD – The Grapeland Sandiettes captured the Fairfield Tournament Championship this past weekend with a convincing, 49-35 win over the tournament hosts – the Fairfield Lady Eagles.

It wasn’t just that the Sandiettes won the tournament, it was the way they won it against schools ranging from a private 6A school to 2A schools.

The Sandiettes were likely the smallest school represented, yet they packed the biggest punch. In pool play starting on Thursday, Dec. 6. Grapeland defeated the Mexia Lady Black Cats (Class 4A) 73-50 in their opening game and – later that same day – the Sandiettes whipped the Teague Lady Lions (Class 3A) by a final of 74-43.

Once they moved into tourney play, Grapeland took on the Bryan Rudder Lady Rangers (Class 5A) in the semifinals of the championship bracket and handled them with relative ease as they won by a final of 77-61.

In the finals, Grapeland faced the Fairfield Lady Eagles and used a big second quarter to coast to the championship title by a score of 49-35.

The Sandiettes used their defense to offset a cold start from the field as they opened up a six point lead after the first eight minutes of play. Kenya Woods dropped in four while KeKe Harris nailed a three pointer. Hannah Chipman and Tatiyanna Bowie also had two each for Grapeland.

Fairfield only scored five points in the quarter as they fell behind by a score of 11-5 after the first period of play. The Lady Eagles’ points came from Belle Johnson with three while Te’Yalla Johnson and Braden Bossier both made one of two from the line.

While she was quiet in the first quarter, Grapeland’s Teira Jones turned it on in the second with 10 points. Chipman added seven, Ragan Bowie knocked down a three to go with a pair from the line and Harris added two more from the charity stripe as the Sandiettes took a 35-16 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Lady Eagles’ points came from Kayelee Adams with three while four other Fairfield players – Simpson, Jada Clark, Jarahle Daniels and Josey Richardson – all had two apiece.

The third quarter saw the Lady Eagles attempt to mount a comeback. However they were only able to shave a single point off of the halftime lead. Clark had four, Adams hit from behind the arc, Johnson had two and Bossier made a pair from the line as the scoreboard read 45-27, in favor of Grapeland, after three periods of play.

Jones paced the Sandiettes after the break with seven while Woods added two and T. Bowie had one.

As the fourth quarter got underway, The Sandiettes began to milk the clock. Jones netted two as both Chipman and Harris were both one-for- two from the line.

The Lady Eagles doubled up the Sandiettes’ fourth quarter output as Bossier and Emori Simpson dropped in four apiece to make the final score Grapeland 49 Fairfield 35.

On the game, Fairfield was led by Braden Bossier with seven points while Kayelee Adams and Jada Clark had six apiece.  Belle Johnson netted five. Emori Davis added four, Te’Yalla Simpson had three and both Jarahle Daniels, along with Josey Richardson, had two.

The Sandiettes were led by Teira Jones with a game-high 19 points. Hannah Chipman contributed 10, both KeKe Harris and Kenya Wood had six apiece, Ragan Bowie had five and Tatiyanna Bowie had three.

 

Will Johnson may be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

 

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