Like her teammates, Joiner overcame those errors by coming up with crucial plays late in the last three playoff games to lift the Lady Eagles to their first University Interscholastic League state tournament since 1999.
While her teammates took care of all the intangibles - whether it was a key steal, rebound or assist - Joiner delivered the biggest blows, hitting game-winning shots to eliminate No. 17-ranked Hempstead, Vanderbilt Industrial and Weimar in a five-day span.
Because of those dramatic finishes, Salado (27-9) - which faces No. 18 Woodville (31-4) in a Class 2A state semifinal at 8:30 a.m. Friday at Frank Erwin Center in Austin - is just two victories away from the school’s first UIL girls basketball title.
When Joiner was asked how much confidence she has in taking the big shot, the 5-10 sophomore who’s averaging a team-leading 19 points per game responded: “A lot. I know I can make it.”
She doesn’t demand the responsibility, even though she puts a lot of pressure on herself, according to Henderson. Maybe that’s why the magnitude of the situation hasn’t affected her and why she’d be just as happy if any one of the Lady Eagles got the job done.
“It doesn’t really matter to me as long as the shot is taken and it goes in,” Joiner said.
One could say it’s just coincidence that the ball finds Joiner’s ready hands in the clutch, considering none of those game-winning plays were designed specifically for her.
Yet, by exhibiting a rare confidence unseen in most 15-year-olds, Joiner always seems to come through with a basket when Salado needs it most.
Her run of big shots started during the regular season with the District 25-2A championship on the line. Joiner hit both ends of a 1-and-1 free throw situation with 5.9 seconds left to lift the Lady Eagles past Academy 44-43, a victory that gave Salado its second straight 25-2A crown and a bye in the bi-district playoff round.
In a Region IV quarterfinal against Hempstead, the Lady Eagles were down 42-41 with 34.9 seconds left. Joiner, who scored eight of the Lady Eagles’ 11 fourth-quarter points, missed a left-handed layup two possessions earlier that would have given Salado some breathing room. Coming out of a timeout, she drained a 15-foot jumper with 25 seconds left for a 43-42 lead, and after two defensive stands mixed in with Joiner being whistled for travelling, Salado survived.
“She plays with a lot more experience than her age would indicate,” Henderson said. “Of course she still makes mistakes that any player would make, but she has a lot more poise and experience for her age.”
Trailing Industrial by five points, Joiner led another fourth-quarter comeback. Her 3-pointer with 2:13 left broke a 39-all tie as the Lady Eagles held off the Lady Cobras 44-41.
Against Weimar, Joiner was at her very best. And Salado needed every bit of her magic.
The Lady Eagles were behind nearly the entire game before Joiner banked in a long 3 for a 43-42 lead with 4:04 left. After Weimar went ahead, Joiner scored a putback and later added two free throws to regain the lead at 47-44.
Then came perhaps the lowest moment in her young career.
Salado led 48-46 with 5.4 seconds left as Joiner headed to the line with a chance to clinch a state tournament berth. Instead, the 84-percent free throw shooter during the regular season rimmed out both attempts and Weimar scored at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
“I felt bad,” said Joiner, who scored 12 of the team’s 15 points in the fourth. “My head was going crazy. I didn’t know what was going to happen after that. It was pretty scary.
“I just had to relax and let it go. I had to keep playing and play hard.”
Stunned by the turn of events, the Lady Eagles trailed by four in overtime before charging back. Jenna Sebek’s and Billi Pipes’ baskets tied the game and Sebek recorded a steal before Joiner was fouled on the perimeter, giving her a second chance.
“(I was) very relieved. I got a shot at redemption,” said Joiner, who scored the team’s final four points and finished with a team-high 19 during the 56-52 win.
“(I told myself) just to relax. I always do the same routine so I just did that. As soon as I shot it, I knew it was going in.”
It did, and with the help of her teammates on defense, the composed, 15-year-old had shot Salado to state.
