Mineral Area guard Karma Jones (3) handles possession during the second quarter of an NJCAA women’s basketball game against Rend Lake on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
PARK HILLS – State Fair pounced on Mineral Area with an opening 13-0 scoring run, and remained unbeaten in women’s basketball action Wednesday with an 82-59 road triumph.
Chloe Reed scored a game-high 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting, and the Roadrunners were never in danger while going 44 percent from the field and striking 10 times from long range.
Zoe Newland swished a 3-pointer on the game’s initial possession, and Reed sank two straight with an offensive rebound by Ellie Buscher in between.
Sophia Edwin tallied 12 points to equal Newland, who also produced four steals. Buscher compiled 14 rebounds plus five assists and nine points for State Fair (16-0, 1-0).
Mariah Dallas netted 17 points to lead Mineral Area (11-5, 0-1), and Marceline Clermont capitalized on two earned trips to the charity stripe in the first quarter.
P.J. Reutzel provided 15 points on five triples, along with three steals off the bench, but the Cardinals often forced difficult shots on drives into the larger defense.
Edwin nailed a 3-pointer, and Buscher finished a strong move inside to increase a 25-17 advantage. A steal and layup by Newland pushed the margin to 38-17.
Reutzel hoped to spark the Cardinals with two 3-pointers, and Karma Jones attacked for a layup just before halftime to make the difference 47-31.
MAC did not have perimeter threat Kinley Norris or reserve guard available due to illness, and three starters combined for just four points in defeat.
Reed and Edwin beat the opposition to the basket on consecutive possessions to restore a 57-36 gap. Taylor Wilson scored on an inbounds pass later in the third quarter.
Maliya White nailed three 3-pointers to equal Wilson with nine points each. Carolyn Foster chipped in eight points with six rebounds for State Fair.
Dallas posted up for three field goals down the stretch, and Alayna Lagemann added two late baskets for the Cardinals, who ended 30 percent from the field and 14-of-19 at the line.
Clermont totaled nine points with three assists, and Jones had eight points with seven rebounds. Mineral Area returned to action next Wednesday at Crowder.
