By DONN ADAMSON / Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Friday, February 24, 2006
Updated: Friday, February 24, 2006 8:53 AM CST

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Farmington Knightettes had high hopes of defeating the Jackson Lady Indians in Thursday's Class 5 district championship. It was the third time the two teams had played each other with Jackson taking the first two. The Lady Indians made it a perfect set of three with a 54-51 win to earn advancement into the state play-offs.

The Knightettes gave a strong effort to have the game go their way, and until the final minute of play, that was possible. The two teams were tied at 49-49 on two free-throws by Natalie Sago. Bobbie Jones, who was Farmington's nemesis all game, made a five footer to give Jackson the lead.

Coach Steve McFarland called time to set up a scoring play. The Knightettes worked the ball inside to Sydney Winslow, and the 6'0” center had a good look at the basket. The shot rolled inside the rim and fell out with Jackson rebounding the ball and scoring on the other end with two free throws by Jones. Winslow would score again, but only 7.8 seconds remained. Winslow would finish with 20 points in the game.

“We had our chance, but it just didn't happen,” said McFarland of his team's strong fourth-quarter play. “The girls really played hard for it.”

Jackson managed to inbound the ball to Jones, and the ensuing foul gave the Lady Indians the final three-point edge. Jones finished with 27 points, scoring 14 in the fourth quarter and eight in the first.

The Knightettes had an upward battle most all of the game, taking their first lead at the end of the third quarter on a three-pointer by Holly Russell. The Knightettes fell behind early due to some sloppy ballhandling. Winslow won the opening tip, but Farmington made their first turnover on their very first pass with Jones making the steal.

Jones would make four steals in the quarter, but the Knightettes kept their poise and with a three-pointer by Briley Milfeld and a pair of baskets by Erin Parks, Farmington trailed by only three at the end of the first quarter.

Jones started off the second quarter with a three-pointer which would be the Lady Indians only points for the next six minutes as the Knightettes closed off the inside game to the Lady Indians, outrebounding them 9-4 in the quarter.

Winslow put up a lay-up that rolled around the top of the hoop before falling in to tie the game at 17-17. Jackson hit the three-ball two times in a row, but Sago made a leaning shot at the buzzer to cut Jackson's lead to four.

Kristen Hayes was called for a foul early in the third quarter when she made a block of a Jackson player's shot. The senior point guard took offense of the call and made an offense of it as she ran the lane to lay in two points and then hit a three-pointer on the next trip down the court.

Hayes wasn't done as she drove into the key again drawing the defense to her and dishing off to an open Danielle Littrell for an easy two which pulled the Knightettes to within one point. Farmington would keep that margin, matching the Lady Indians point for point until Winslow made a steal setting up Russell's score-leading three.

Milfeld hit a three to start the fourth quarter and give Farmington their largest lead at five, but the Knightettes were again plagued with the loose-ball syndrome, giving Jackson a chance to catch up and retake the lead. The rest of the fourth quarter was a back-and-forth changing of the lead until Sago's free-throws.

The Knightettes finish their season at 20-7 with conference regular season and tournament championships and a second place in districts.

Farmington 11 8 19 13 - 51

Jackson 14 9 13 18 - 54

Farmington - Winslow 20, Littrell 7, Milfeld 6, Hayes 5, Russell 5, Sago 4, Parks 4.

Jackson - Jones 27, Werner 16, Garritano 4, Goodpasture 3, Peiffer 2, Keith 2.

3-Pointers: Werner 3, Milfeld 2, Hayes, Russell, Jones.