Tournament Preview: Lions set to take on Clay Panthers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG — The Fairfield Lions are ready to continue their end of the regular season success in the second season, this Tuesday at Valley High School in Lucasville.
The Lions (9-11) will take on the Clay (Portsmouth) Panthers in their Division IV SE District Sectional Final game, with the winner headed to the Convocation Center in Athens at the campus of Ohio University.
Tuesday's game will feature a Clay team that is 12-8 overall and 11-3 in the SOC (Southern Ohio Conference) that unofficially averages 57-to-58 points per game, along with a senior-led team with seven on the team.
"Clay likes to run up and down the floor," FHS head coach Matt Carson said. "They have two big kids who can rebound inside. They also have very balanced scoring."
Both teams have their advantages when they are on the court. One is able to rebound better, while the other possibly is better at shooting the basketball. This season, the Panthers have taken a lot of 3-point shots, unofficially shooting 20 or more 3-pointers in at least two games this season.
One of the top players for Clay is 6-0 senior Cody Bussler, who tallied 27 points against Notre Dame in a 58-57 win during their regular season finale.
Standouts for Clay also include 6-3 senior Josh Porter, 6-6 senior Max Graham and 6-2 senior Nathan Burchett. Clay has six players who are 6-0 or taller.
In the month of February, the Panthers went 4-2 in six games, defeating Eastern (Eagles), East, Western, and Notre Dame. The two losses were against South Webster (84-76 in three overtimes), and Green (65-58).
Three of the Panthers' biggest wins this season came against Eastern (Eagles) Symmes Valley and Green.
"We do a lot of the same things," Carson said of Clay. "They get to the rim better than us, but I think we shoot better. Personnel-wise, we are about the same.
"They are an experienced team with some seniors who have been playing varsity basketball for three years."
For the Lions, who went 7-6 in the Southern Hills League, they are entering as the game winners of four of their last seven games. They split their final two regular-season games, defeating the Manchester Greyhounds (52-50) and falling to the Eastern Brown Warriors (56-54).
They are led by senior 1,000-plus point scorer Chris Cox, who missed the first four games of the season due to injury. Cox is averaging 18 points per game in 16 games played, with 5.3 rebounds per game.
FHS has some big wins this season, defeating Whiteoak, Manchester, Miami Trace and East Clinton.
Also for the Lions, senior Cameron Rolark is averaging 16 ppg, as he had a career game against the Adena Warriors, scoring 43 points, including a school-record 11 3-pointers.
Another FHS senior Cody Ferrell is averaging 9.4 ppg, along with six rpg.
The Lions are looking to get past the sectional round and back to the Convo for the third time in four seasons.
"After the heartbreak loss last year to South Webster, a win would mean a lot to our seniors," Carson said. "Getting to the Convo is special."
The Lions and Panthers will tip-off at 6:15 p.m. at Valley High School.[[In-content Ad]]
The Lions (9-11) will take on the Clay (Portsmouth) Panthers in their Division IV SE District Sectional Final game, with the winner headed to the Convocation Center in Athens at the campus of Ohio University.
Tuesday's game will feature a Clay team that is 12-8 overall and 11-3 in the SOC (Southern Ohio Conference) that unofficially averages 57-to-58 points per game, along with a senior-led team with seven on the team.
"Clay likes to run up and down the floor," FHS head coach Matt Carson said. "They have two big kids who can rebound inside. They also have very balanced scoring."
Both teams have their advantages when they are on the court. One is able to rebound better, while the other possibly is better at shooting the basketball. This season, the Panthers have taken a lot of 3-point shots, unofficially shooting 20 or more 3-pointers in at least two games this season.
One of the top players for Clay is 6-0 senior Cody Bussler, who tallied 27 points against Notre Dame in a 58-57 win during their regular season finale.
Standouts for Clay also include 6-3 senior Josh Porter, 6-6 senior Max Graham and 6-2 senior Nathan Burchett. Clay has six players who are 6-0 or taller.
In the month of February, the Panthers went 4-2 in six games, defeating Eastern (Eagles), East, Western, and Notre Dame. The two losses were against South Webster (84-76 in three overtimes), and Green (65-58).
Three of the Panthers' biggest wins this season came against Eastern (Eagles) Symmes Valley and Green.
"We do a lot of the same things," Carson said of Clay. "They get to the rim better than us, but I think we shoot better. Personnel-wise, we are about the same.
"They are an experienced team with some seniors who have been playing varsity basketball for three years."
For the Lions, who went 7-6 in the Southern Hills League, they are entering as the game winners of four of their last seven games. They split their final two regular-season games, defeating the Manchester Greyhounds (52-50) and falling to the Eastern Brown Warriors (56-54).
They are led by senior 1,000-plus point scorer Chris Cox, who missed the first four games of the season due to injury. Cox is averaging 18 points per game in 16 games played, with 5.3 rebounds per game.
FHS has some big wins this season, defeating Whiteoak, Manchester, Miami Trace and East Clinton.
Also for the Lions, senior Cameron Rolark is averaging 16 ppg, as he had a career game against the Adena Warriors, scoring 43 points, including a school-record 11 3-pointers.
Another FHS senior Cody Ferrell is averaging 9.4 ppg, along with six rpg.
The Lions are looking to get past the sectional round and back to the Convo for the third time in four seasons.
"After the heartbreak loss last year to South Webster, a win would mean a lot to our seniors," Carson said. "Getting to the Convo is special."
The Lions and Panthers will tip-off at 6:15 p.m. at Valley High School.[[In-content Ad]]