Fairfield wins long-range battle over Manchester on homecoming
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG – Friday saw the Fairfield Lions and Manchester Greyhounds combine for 12 3-pointers in the first three frames, as the outside shooting and defense of the host Fairfield Lions allowed them to gain a 62-27 win over the visiting Greyhounds for a conference and homecoming victory.
The Lions (6-0, 8-3) had a slow start following an extended 19-day break from the court, but following a first quarter where they led by just two points at 17-15, they kicked their game up in gear and took over the game, eventually having the running clock in the fourth frame to seal the 35-point win.
“Our goal was to hold them to under 30,” Fairfield head coach Josh Howland said. “Last year we had to hold teams under 30 to win, but this year we can score and have offensive weapons with Tytis (Cannon) being healthy, and all of our guys … we are comfortable with any of them shooting at this point.
“We were proud of our bench and how they came in and played, too. When you practice that way, and when your top five have a second-string to go against like we do, it makes practices so productive, and we don’t have a wasted minute. It shows in these games.”
Before the Lions built their double-digit lead, they had a battle on their hands in the first quarter as Manchester was first to score from beyond the arc with a trey from Isaiah Scott. The Lions answered with a 3-pointer of their own by Brayden Zimmerman, only to have Manchester’s Leland Horner respond with another trey for a 6-3 Greyhound lead.
That lead increased to five points following a basket by Zander White, causing the Lions to call an early first-quarter timeout with 5:18 left on the clock.
Following a discussion with Coach Howland, the play of the Lions improved on both sides of the court, including the home team going on a 10-0 run in a span of one minute of in-game action, starting with a basket from Koben Zink with the assist from Reese Teeters. Zink finished with 10 points in the win.
Next was a trey by Zink, and then a 3-pointer from teammate Jon Bentley. The senior Bentley added two more points in transition with the assist by Tytis Cannon with 3:30 on the clock for a 13-8 Fairfield lead.
Manchester came back with five straight points, but the Lions answered with a three-point play by Cannon, and a free throw made by Wyatt Collins, who totaled six points for the game. Manchester ended the first quarter with a 3-pointer from Scott for the 17-15 score, leaving the Lions ahead by two points.
After the break in play in-between quarters the Southern Hills Athletic Conference game wasn’t the same for the next three quarters, which for those cheering the Fairfield Lions was a reason to celebrate.
Fairfield opened the second quarter with seven consecutive points much to the liking of their fans in attendance, as Zink sank one basket, and Cannon — who totaled 12 points — sank a jumper and a 3-pointer for a 25-15 Fairfield advantage with 5:30 left in the first half.
The defense of the Lions showed up too, as they held the Greyhounds to three points in the second quarter, and part of that was a huge block from Zimmerman around the 5:15 mark of the quarter. Manchester’s lone basket came with 5:09 on the clock, as they saw Scott knock down a 3-pointer for a 24-18 score.
From that point on, though, it was all Fairfield with a layup in transition from Cannon, a put-back basket by Teeters and two points in the paint by Gunner Bennington for a 30-18 halftime lead as the Lions outscored the Greyhounds, 13-3 in the frame.
The third frame was basically a repeat for Fairfield in the scoring column, as they outscored Manchester 14-3 in the quarter. The first four baskets of the third were all 3-pointers, with three of them by the Lions. Zink started the fun with a trey for a 33-18 FHS lead, and Teeters followed with a 3-pointer of his own at the 4:18 mark.
The Greyhounds came back with a 3-pointer by Horner, but Teeters took over the frame with another trifecta at the 3:48 mark of the third, then he stole the ball and drove it to the hoop for two points with 1:49 left in the quarter. Teeters finished with a team-high 14 points.
The Lions took a 23-point lead following a 3-pointer from T.J. Mootz at the buzzer, leaving the score 44-21 after three frames.
Fairfield scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, while Manchester scored six. Teeters added four points in the fourth, including going 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. Bentley added five points with two baskets and a made free throw, finishing the game with 10 points.
Collins was 3-of-3 from the free-throw line in the third, plus he made one basket. Also scoring baskets in the fourth were Cannon and Mootz.
For the game, the Lions finished with 15 two-point baskets, eight 3-pointers and were 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. They also got the running clock rule activated with 3:35 left in the fourth, as their lead reached 30-plus points. Other final scoring totals for the Lions included Zimmerman (three), Mootz (five) and Bennington (two).
The Greyhounds totaled four two-point baskets, five 3-pointers and finished 4-of-4 in their attempts from the free-throw line. Scott led MHS in scoring with 13 points, while Horner totaled six points. Daulton McDonald ended the game with four points, while teammates Ryland Wikoff and Zander White each scored two points.
In pregame ceremonies, Reese Teeters was named the homecoming king, and Halle Hamilton was named the homecoming queen.
Next for the Lions is a SHAC game scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 19 against the Eastern Warriors at FHS. Fairfield's game for Tuesday night against Hillsboro has been postponed.
[[In-content Ad]]
The Lions (6-0, 8-3) had a slow start following an extended 19-day break from the court, but following a first quarter where they led by just two points at 17-15, they kicked their game up in gear and took over the game, eventually having the running clock in the fourth frame to seal the 35-point win.
“Our goal was to hold them to under 30,” Fairfield head coach Josh Howland said. “Last year we had to hold teams under 30 to win, but this year we can score and have offensive weapons with Tytis (Cannon) being healthy, and all of our guys … we are comfortable with any of them shooting at this point.
“We were proud of our bench and how they came in and played, too. When you practice that way, and when your top five have a second-string to go against like we do, it makes practices so productive, and we don’t have a wasted minute. It shows in these games.”
Before the Lions built their double-digit lead, they had a battle on their hands in the first quarter as Manchester was first to score from beyond the arc with a trey from Isaiah Scott. The Lions answered with a 3-pointer of their own by Brayden Zimmerman, only to have Manchester’s Leland Horner respond with another trey for a 6-3 Greyhound lead.
That lead increased to five points following a basket by Zander White, causing the Lions to call an early first-quarter timeout with 5:18 left on the clock.
Following a discussion with Coach Howland, the play of the Lions improved on both sides of the court, including the home team going on a 10-0 run in a span of one minute of in-game action, starting with a basket from Koben Zink with the assist from Reese Teeters. Zink finished with 10 points in the win.
Next was a trey by Zink, and then a 3-pointer from teammate Jon Bentley. The senior Bentley added two more points in transition with the assist by Tytis Cannon with 3:30 on the clock for a 13-8 Fairfield lead.
Manchester came back with five straight points, but the Lions answered with a three-point play by Cannon, and a free throw made by Wyatt Collins, who totaled six points for the game. Manchester ended the first quarter with a 3-pointer from Scott for the 17-15 score, leaving the Lions ahead by two points.
After the break in play in-between quarters the Southern Hills Athletic Conference game wasn’t the same for the next three quarters, which for those cheering the Fairfield Lions was a reason to celebrate.
Fairfield opened the second quarter with seven consecutive points much to the liking of their fans in attendance, as Zink sank one basket, and Cannon — who totaled 12 points — sank a jumper and a 3-pointer for a 25-15 Fairfield advantage with 5:30 left in the first half.
The defense of the Lions showed up too, as they held the Greyhounds to three points in the second quarter, and part of that was a huge block from Zimmerman around the 5:15 mark of the quarter. Manchester’s lone basket came with 5:09 on the clock, as they saw Scott knock down a 3-pointer for a 24-18 score.
From that point on, though, it was all Fairfield with a layup in transition from Cannon, a put-back basket by Teeters and two points in the paint by Gunner Bennington for a 30-18 halftime lead as the Lions outscored the Greyhounds, 13-3 in the frame.
The third frame was basically a repeat for Fairfield in the scoring column, as they outscored Manchester 14-3 in the quarter. The first four baskets of the third were all 3-pointers, with three of them by the Lions. Zink started the fun with a trey for a 33-18 FHS lead, and Teeters followed with a 3-pointer of his own at the 4:18 mark.
The Greyhounds came back with a 3-pointer by Horner, but Teeters took over the frame with another trifecta at the 3:48 mark of the third, then he stole the ball and drove it to the hoop for two points with 1:49 left in the quarter. Teeters finished with a team-high 14 points.
The Lions took a 23-point lead following a 3-pointer from T.J. Mootz at the buzzer, leaving the score 44-21 after three frames.
Fairfield scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, while Manchester scored six. Teeters added four points in the fourth, including going 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. Bentley added five points with two baskets and a made free throw, finishing the game with 10 points.
Collins was 3-of-3 from the free-throw line in the third, plus he made one basket. Also scoring baskets in the fourth were Cannon and Mootz.
For the game, the Lions finished with 15 two-point baskets, eight 3-pointers and were 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. They also got the running clock rule activated with 3:35 left in the fourth, as their lead reached 30-plus points. Other final scoring totals for the Lions included Zimmerman (three), Mootz (five) and Bennington (two).
The Greyhounds totaled four two-point baskets, five 3-pointers and finished 4-of-4 in their attempts from the free-throw line. Scott led MHS in scoring with 13 points, while Horner totaled six points. Daulton McDonald ended the game with four points, while teammates Ryland Wikoff and Zander White each scored two points.
In pregame ceremonies, Reese Teeters was named the homecoming king, and Halle Hamilton was named the homecoming queen.
Next for the Lions is a SHAC game scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 19 against the Eastern Warriors at FHS. Fairfield's game for Tuesday night against Hillsboro has been postponed.
[[In-content Ad]]