DECATUR – Success was achieved by the Fairview Lady Aggies Tuesday as they opened up their summer basketball play-day schedule.
The tour began at Decatur Heritage Christian Academy with the Lady Aggies posting victory over West Morgan 42-33 and Huntland, Tennessee 34-27.
While the offense encountered moments of failing to score, the defense helped the Lady Aggies get control with both assignments being decided in crunch time.
Fairview and West Morgan were tied with less than 3:00 remaining. The Lady Aggies snapped the deadlock on a three-point play from center Abbi Taylor that set the tone to finish the game on a 9-0 run.
After missing a couple of front ends of one-and-one opportunities, the Lady Aggies overcame that issue when Jada Golden and point guard Taylor Yeager scored from the foul line in the final 18 seconds.
The Lady Aggies and Lady Rebels gave an all-out effort despite neither able to show consistency in shooting the ball. The lead swapped sides on the scoreboard nine times in the first half.
Fairview took the lead, only to see free throws from West Morgan even the numbers at 18-18 when the half ended.
The largest lead of the game turned out to be the final score after the free throws from Yeager. The sophomore recorded double digits with 10 points.
In game two, the Lady Aggies and Huntland engaged in a hard fought battle as the lack of scoring was evident in this game as well.
The Lady Aggies scored 10 consecutive points to lead 12-4 when Yeager hit a shot in the paint with 6:07 to go in the half.
Then Fairview managed a three by McKinna Yearwood to make it 15-8 at the 3:35 mark. The Lady Aggies were scoreless the rest of the way and led at intermission, 15-11.
Five minutes into the second half, the Lady Aggies were on their way to an eight-point cushion behind a field goal from Taylor, giving them a 25-17 lead.
Back came Huntland. They needed a three-minute span for an 8-0 spurt and the game was even at 25-25 with 10:00 to play.
Dailya Dean sent Mary Lauren Hartline's Lady Aggies back in front to stay with a three from the left wing to make it 28-25 and 7:40 to go in the game.
Fairview withstood Huntland's quest to get back and tie the contest by allowing them one field goal in the final 5:00.
Abby Schnittker knocked down a pair from the line to give Fairview a 32-27 edge with 2:47 showing. Yeager iced the win at the stripe with 16 seconds remaining.
Fairview has talent returning from last season's squad that posted a school record 21 victories. Yeager returns for her third season at point guard and is only a sophomore with Taylor and Jada Golden joining her as returning starters.
Schnittker has moved into a starting position in the backcourt with Yeager while Yearwood has worked her into the starting five as a forward.
Dean and Maci Yeager give the team depth off the bench in the guard and forward positions.
Fairview will get a good test this weekend when they head to the Jacksonville State University play-day series. The Lady Aggies will play three games on Thursday and three on Friday at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
Hartline will have her team back in a Danville play-day assignment next Thursday (June 23).
