The Blair Oaks Lady Falcons earned the No. 1 seed in the Class 4 District 10 Tournament by virtue of defeating each of the other five teams in the district during the regular season. But when the Lady Falcons lost their starting point guard to a season-ending knee injury in the regular-season finale, they went from being the favorites to facing a steep uphill climb to begin their postseason.
It was a little good news, a little bad news. The Blair Oaks Lady Falcons jumped out to an 8-0 lead Monday night against the Hallsville Lady Indians in Tri-County Conference play. But less than three minutes later, a pair of inside players for the Lady Falcons were both on the bench with two fouls each.
The Blair Oaks Lady Falcons decided the best way to win a tightly contested game was to never give up hold of the lead. Blair Oaks led for the final 20 minutes Monday, and although the Camdenton Lakers cut a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter down to three points, the Lady Falcons held on for a 46-39 victory in their season opener.
The calendar may have said it was Sept. 29, but Thursday night’s game at the Falcon Athletic Complex resembled late October softball. One swing of the bat determined the game’s fate in the pitchers’ duel. Baley Rackers slapped an RBI double to center field in the bottom of the third inning, then scored on an overthrow as the Blair Oaks Lady Falcons won 2-0 against the Fatima Lady Comets.
There was a power surge in the bottom of the sixth inning Wednesday night at the Falcon Athletic Complex. Emma Wolken, Kally Bruce and Taylor Groner all homered in the inning, powering the Blair Oaks Lady Falcons to a 10-0 victory in six innings against the Jefferson City Lady Jays.