No. 1 Wall Lady Hawks Dominate No. 3 Idalou to Book Ticket to State

PLAINVIEW, TX -- The Wall Lady Hawks became regional champions and will be heading to the state tournament after dominating the no. 3-ranked Idalou Lady Wildcats on Saturday at Wayland Baptist University. 

Wall won the tip off, but turned the ball over off of a skip pass. They started in a man-to-man defense in which Jayden Fiebiger was able to get a block. The Lady Hawks then attempted a three-pointer. Fiebiger was able to grab the rebound, miss the lay-up, grab another rebound and put the ball in the hole. This basket started a 6-0 run, which forced Idalou to call a timeout within the first two minutes. 

After the timeout, Idalou was able to get their first basket after a offensive rebound. The Lady Wildcats went on a five to nothing run before the first set of substitutes came in the game. They took the lead after grabbing three offensive rebounds and finally finishing it. The momentum shifted at this point. The lady hawks turned the ball over with three seconds in the lane, and to Idalou's tough 2-3 zone defense. With one minute left in the quarter Sawyer Lloyd hit her first three-pointer to take the lead. Then came down on the next possession and hit another three to give them a 12-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Fiebiger made two free-throws on the first possession on a post up play fed in by Lloyd. Offensive rebounds for the Lady Wildcats kept them in the game. They were able to grab offensive rebounds in the first half.  Idalou pulled the lead to two with three and a half minutes left causing Wall to call a timeout. Lloyd came out of the time out to find a wide open layup. The following possession was patient and long, but it paid off as Lloyd was able to find Fiebiger for an easyshot. They allowed a score on a contested layup, but Kylie Phillips answered that score with a three-pointer to extend their lead to seven as Idalou called a timeout.

After the timeout, Idalou turned the ball over with a three-seconds in the lane. Wall came down the floor to try and take the last shot. Fiebiger scored the basket, but left eight seconds to long on the clock as Shaylee Stovall hit a three-pointer at the buzzer. Wall led going into the half 26-20. 

Wall shot 47 percent from the field, and 44 percent from three-point range at half time. They had 10 rebounds, six turnovers, one block, and five steals. Lloyd has eight points, one assist, and one steals. Fiebiger has 10 points, two rebounds, and one blocks. 

Idalou shot 45 percent from the field, and 40 percent from three-point range in the first half. They had 12 rebounds, nine turnovers, and three steals. Stovall has eight points and two turnovers. 

The Lady Wildcats started with the ball in the second half. They were able to get an easy block shot on their first attempt. Landry Reynolds then tried to take the ball into the paint but was fouled, but she wasn't able to make either free throw. Taylor Houston was able to grab three offensive rebounds before she was fouled. She only made one free throw. Wall then jumped into a full court man-to-man press. Stovall then got called for a charge call to help swing momentum to the Lady Hawks. With a shot by Payton Box they were able to get the biggest lead of the day so far. Samantha Rocha kept the run going with a and-one basket with just four minutes left in the quarter.

Wall's 7-0 run caused the Lady Wildcats to call a timeout as they trailed by 11. Idalou came out of the timeout and switched to a man-to-man defense, but was taken advantage of by Rocha's post game. They then began to press, but was eaten alive by Lloyd fast ball handling. Lloyd was able to find a lane, but missed the shot. Fiebiger grabbed the rebound and made the basket. This shot increased their lead to 43-26 going into the final quarter. The Lady Hawks were able to hold Idalou to nine percent shooting in the quarter. 

Stovall received the ball first in the fourth quarter, and she was able to hit a three-pointer to try and close the gap. Tanay Williams for the Lady Wildcats hit a three on the following possession to go on a 6-0 run. Wall then called a timeout after the two three-pointers. Idalou came out of the timeout and played tough defense. The defense was tough enough that Coach Lombard called another timeout. Following this timeout the Lady Hawks took their time and finally found Box for a wide open three-pointer. Idalou continued to claw and fight their way back in the game by pressing and taking a lot of chances and then trying to score fast on the offensive end. Wall on the other hand continued to take their time and only take open shots. 

"I told them that we need to get back to some of the fundamental things that we talked about before the game," said Wall head coach Tate Lombard on what he told his team following those two timeouts. "We have to guard the three point line because they are dangerous. We need to take care of the basketball."

There was a pause in the game with two minutes left as a fan in the Idalou student section was escorted out by police due to offensive language. The fans attitude couldn't stop Wall from celebrating as they were able to punch their ticket to the championship tournament with the final score being 52-36.

"We've had so many close games to get to this point and each game prepared us for today," said coach Lombard  "I think our kids played extremely well on both ends of the floor. I was really proud of our focus and our effort."

Wall shot 46 percent from the field, and 46 percent from three-point range. They had 28 rebounds, seven turnovers, three blocks, and five steals. Lloyd has eight points, three assist, and two steals. Fiebiger had 16 points, six bounds, and one block. 

Idalou shot 29 percent from the field, and 28 percent from three-point range. They had 28 rebounds, 11 turnovers, and three steals. Stovall has 13 points and two turnovers. 

Wall will face Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill in the state semifinals next week.