State Fair women reach 20-0, absorb late Mineral Area push
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Mineral Area guard Presley Holweg releases a 3-point shot during the first 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 – The Mineral Area women knocked on the door of a potential signature win on Friday after twice rallying to draw even with unbeaten State Fair.
But timely 3-pointers by Ellie Buscher and Chloe Reed stemmed the momentum just enough for the 12th-ranked Roadrunners to escape with a 68-62 road triumph.
State Fair (20-0, 5-0) forced 20 turnovers while committing only 11, and overcame a squandered 14-point lead ahead of a marquee Region 16 showdown at Three Rivers on Tuesday.
Buscher finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, and Sophia Edwin added 14 points. Zoe Newland pressured the Cardinals into back-to-back miscues within the final 8 seconds.
Mariah Dallas powered in a game-high 18 points, and her production in the paint complemented a solid rebounding effort by Mineral Area (12-8, 1-4).
Despite P.J. Reutzel and Presley Holweg draining 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to forge a 50-50 tie with 8:55 remaining, the Cardinals ended 2-of-18 overall from beyond the arc.
Buscher connected from straight away, and Carolyn Foster converted layups off back-to-back steals to suddenly restore a margin of seven.
Dallas completed a physical 3-point play on a lob from Casey Teague, then coaxed in a layup at 58-58 when Reutzel claimed a steal and Karma Jones corralled an offensive rebound.
Although Edwin answered with a go-ahead layup, the Cardinals later drew within 61-60 on another Dallas basket before inducing a State Fair turnover.
Presley Holweg compiled 12 points, 11 rebounds and three steals with controlled hustle, but missed an open look from the left wing. She also logged seven turnovers.
The Roadrunners were patient on the ensuing possession, and Reed buried a confident triple in rhythm to create important breathing room with 19 seconds to play.
MAC worked quickly to obtain a layup from Teague, who totaled 10 points with seven rebounds and five blocks. Reed clinched the outcome with free throws.
Reed and Foster each tallied nine points in the victory. Taylor Wilson matched Kamaree Pollard with eight, and notched a 3-point play to help SFCC lead 14-12 through one quarter.
Holweg scored on consecutive chances for the Cardinals, but Buscher sank a contested 7-footer while turning into a sharper angle along the baseline.
The visitors increased a 30-22 halftime edge on two straight 3-pointers by Edwin and Buscher, and maintained a 41-28 margin as Newland zipped a stellar outlet pass on target for a Reed layup.
Teague cashed in a post move after Holweg created a steal and layup, and Dallas added a 3-point play as Mineral Area answered with a 16-5 surge with feisty defense.
State Fair executed an ideal final possession of the third quarter, however, as Edwin dished on a drive to Wilson for a layup and 48-44 spread just before time expired.
Newland picked up a technical foul for taunting after blocking a shot in the second quarter.
Mineral Area received 11 points among five bench players, and Jones had a team-high six assists.
The Cardinals finished 16-of-24 from the line, and will briefly exit region play on Wednesday for a road rematch at Wabash Valley.
