WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!
Lady Jackets Defeat Oneida for Region 2-1A Championship
For the first time since 2010, the Coalfield Lady Jackets captured the regional basketball crown by defeating Oneida Wednesday evening for the third time this season. After losing the District 3-1A championship to Oneida just nine days earlier, the determined Lady Jackets fought off every attempt by the Lady Indians to get and maintain the lead. Despite Oneida burying four 3-point baskets in the final period, Coalfield used balanced scoring by Kadence Jackson, Alexis Morrison, and Jayleigh Bunch to hold off the Indians’ attack and win the game and the Region 2-1A championship 51-46.
Oneida led off with a bang, quickly taking a 6-0 lead in the first 28 seconds of the game. Even though fans may have experienced some uneasiness at this point, the Lady Jackets were unshaken. Morrison and Bunch began to work inside to close the gap to 8-4 with 4:48 on the clock. Coalfield’s smothering defense held the Lady Indians scoreless, and the Lady Jackets tied the score at 8-8 on a 3-point basket by Gabbi Lowe with three minutes left in the first. Oneida went up 10-8 with 2:30 left – that would be the last time the Lady Indians would find the basket in the first quarter. Coalfield again tied the score at 10-10 with 2:13 on the clock and went ahead 12-10 on a basket by Jackson with 1:16 remaining.
The Lady Indians tied the score at 7:46 in the second on a driving shot underneath by Kelsey Pike and then took a 15-12 lead when Pike buried a 3-pointer. Oneida then expanded its lead to 17-12 before the Lady Jackets began to chip away at the Lady Indians’ lead. Coalfield regained the lead at 21-20 when Isabella Armes sank two free throws with 2:33 on the clock. Oneida regained the lead 22-21, but Coalfield closed out the half with a basket and led 23-22. Lowe led Jacket scoring with six points in the quarter, including 4 for 4 at the free throw line.
Oneida once again took the lead at 26-25 two minutes into the third quarter, but Coalfield regained the lead 27-26 half a minute later. The Lady Jackets pulled away to a 7-point lead at 33-26 with 2:19 remaining in the third. Oneida trimmed Coalfield’s lead to 33-31 with 49 seconds remaining. Each team added two more points and Coalfield led 35-33 at the end of the third quarter.
At this point in the game, either team could possibly gain the victory. Oneida’s excellent 3-point shooters had connected on only three treys in the first three quarters. Could Coalfield’s defense continue to shut them down?That question was answered just seconds into the final period as Oneida took the lead 36-35 on a 3-point basket. The Lady Indians would bury three more treys in the final period, but it wasn’t enough.
Coalfield regained the lead at 37-36 a minute later. Oneida tied the score at 37-37 with 6:04 remaining, but Coalfield once again went ahead 39-37 at 5:51. Oneida closed the gap to 41-40, but Coalfield jumped to a 45-40 lead at 3:34. Baskets underneath by Morrison and Bunch expanded Coalfield’s lead to 49-43 with 1:12 remaining. Lady Jacket fans were finally beginning to smell victory. Oneida cut the lead to 49-46 with 44 seconds remaining, but that would be their last score. With a smile on her face, Jackson sank a free throw with 38 seconds remaining to close out the scoring.
Coalfield fans erupted as the horn sounded and the Lady Jackets marched into history as the 2021-22 Region 2-1A champions.
Jackson led Coalfield’s balanced scoring with 15 points, including 8 points in the critical fourth quarter as Coalfield held off the Lady Indians’ final attack. Morrison scored 14 points, including four in the final period. Lowe scored 11 points for the Lady Jackets, and Bunch added seven points, including four points in the fourth quarter stretch.
Oneida was led by District 3-1A regular season MVP Kelsey Pike with 16 points, Annaleah Terry with 10 points, and Raylie Bush with nine points.
Coalfield will host Region 1-1A runner-up Cloudland Saturday evening in sectional competition with the winner going to the state tournament. The loss ended Oneida’s season.