JACKSONVILLE – After a disappointing loss to Bartram Trail at home in the district 4-8A title game, the Fleming Island High School Lady Eagles rebounded on the road with a 69-32 drubbing of district champion First Coast in the region 1-8A quarterfinals Thurs., Feb. 15 at First Coast High School.

“Our last game against Batram Trail (A 50-47 loss for the district title) was the most disappointing game we played all year. I told the girls tonight is do or die and for our Seniors it could be your last game,” said Fleming Island head coach Joey Williams. “And to our credit we came out focused and ready to go.”

Fleming Island (24-5) will next head to Creekside High School on Tues., Feb. 20 to take on Bartram Trail (18-10) in the region 1-8A semifinal game.

Bartram Trail defeated Robert E. Lee High 57-35 in their region quarterfinal. The winner will play in the region final against the winner of the Niceville (16-11) vs. Tallahassee Lincoln (20-1) semifinal.

Fleming Island’s game with First Coast was closely contested with both teams looking to establish an inside game early. First Coast featured 6’4 Senior Alexis Bryant while Fleming Island turned to 6’2 freshman Skylar Baltezeger to establish the all important post game. Tia Robinson hit the game’s opening basket with a three pointer on the first possession. First Coast’s Diamond McCormick answered back with a three pointer of her own. The strategy from both teams was clear: Fleming Island looking to push the ball up the floor and look for fast break opportunities while First Coast looked to slow the ball down, spread the floor looking for Bryant in the post. First Coast’s strategy was executed to perfection the first four minutes of the game as they held a 7-5 lead.

The Eagles opened in a 1-3-1 zone where at times they could triple team the free throw line area where the 6’4 Bryant looked to receive the ball. The strategy worked and the Eagles got their fast break game moving scoring 14 points in the last four minutes of the quarter in an even distribution of Baltezeger in the post along with Hope Rozier and Aubrey Burke on the fast break with Robinson collecting assists. With the uptempo pace the Eagles were able to take an early two-point deficit and turn it into a 19-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Diamond McCormick hit a three pointer on the Buccaneers first possession to cut the lead to five points and it appeared this regional playoff game could go down to the wire; but the Eagles had other plans. Enter freshman Skylar Baltezeger. The post player would play her best game of the season and spark the offense with a dominating first half in the low post scoring 14 points on seven of eight shooting. When the Golden Eagles weren’t feeding the ball to Baltezeger in the post they were running the fast break led by Tia Robinson, Hope Rozier, Erin Taylor and Aubrey Burke. The unsung hero of the first half was Senior Molly Ragle. She anchored the Golden Eagle defense and led the team in rebounding and diving on the floor for everything from loose balls to drawing charges to drawing fouls with her post moves. After Baltezeger left the game Ragle picked up right where she left off in the post dominating the taller First Coast players with drop steps and also getting to the free throw line. “We have been struggling shooting from the perimeter lately so we were looking to feed the post and get them in foul trouble (She drew five fouls on First Coast players resulting in eight second period free throws) said Ragle. “We knew anything can happen in tournament play so we were focused all week in practice” she added. The Eagles went on a 16-4 run the first four minutes of the 2nd period then ended the quarter on a 12-0 run to burst the game wide open with a 47-18 halftime lead.

The Eagles were able to cruise the final two quarters and get every player in the game an route to the 69-32 win.

Fleming Island will get a rematch with district champion Batram Trail for a birth in the regional finals. Williams feels confident if his team plays well they can continue to advance. “This is the way we should be playing every night; hitting 60 plus points. The entire team played well tonight and Skylar came through with 7 big baskets. We just have to play Fleming Island ball and we will be ok.”