Fairfield goes 2-1 in past 3 games; defeats Paint Valley and Manchester

The Fairfield Lions boys basketball team in their three most recent games have won two and lost one, with the loss against the Peebles Indians, then followed by two consecutive victories against Paint Valley and Manchester. 

All three of those games were on the road, as the Lions played on Dec. 19 at Peebles, Dec. 23 at Paint Valley and Dec. 27 at Manchester. 

On Friday, Dec. 19 against the Peebles Indians in Southern Hills Athletic Conference play, the Lions lost by a 67-63 score in overtime.  

Both teams scored 13 points in the first frame, and it was Peebles outscoring Fairfield 19-13 for a 32-26 halftime score. The Indians won the third frame by a point at 15-14 for a 47-40 score. 

The Lions forced overtime, overcoming their seven-point deficit at the end of the third by outscoring the Indians 17-10 in the fourth frame for a 57-57 score at the end of regulation. In overtime, Peebles scored 10 points and held Fairfield to six points. 

Fairfield was led by Brody Smith with 28 points, as he made six 3-pointers, four two-point baskets, and he was also 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. 

Griffin Friend finished with 20 points for the Lions, making two 3-pointers, six two-point baskets, and he was 2-of-5 from the free-throw line. 

The Lions also had nine points from Caleb Rice with a 3-pointer and three two-point baskets, three points scored by Zach Ahsaruk a 3-pointer, and Quentin McIntosh with three points as he made a two-point bucket and was 1-of-4 from the free-throw line. 

FHS finished with 14 two-point baskets, 10 3-pointers, and they were 5-of-11 from the free-throw line. 

The Indians had four players score in double figures as they were led by Bo Johnson with 19 points, making a 3-pointer, five two-point baskets, and he was 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. 

Paxton Ryan scored 12 points for the Indians, and next was Josh McClary with 11 points, while Keegan Puckett scored 10 points. Also for Peebles, scoring totals included Grady Knechtly (1), Connor Gross (8) and Colyn Sims (6). 

Peebles’ team totals were 18 two-point baskets, five 3-pointers (McClary 3, Johnson 1, Ryan 1) and they were 16-of-25 from the free-throw line. 

BOX SCORE
FHS    13 13 14 17 (06) — 63
PHS    13 19 15 10 (10) — 67

Fairfield’s next game was on Tuesday, Dec. 23 as the Lions traveled to Bainbridge to face the Paint Valley Bearcats, where the Lions won 71-45. 

Fairfield led by 10 points once the first quarter was completed at 16-6, and after a 20-10 second quarter that went in favor of the Lions, it was Fairfield holding a 36-16 halftime lead. 

In the first half, starting with the first quarter, the Lions had points scored by Brody Smith (two), Caleb Rice (six) and Griffin Friend (eight). The second frame the Lions had four points from Smith, Rice with five points, Friend with five points, Layne Burgess scored two points, and Quentin McIntosh scored four points in the quarter. 

The Lions won the third frame at 21-17, then they also outscored Paint Valley 14-12 in the fourth frame. 

The third quarter included eight points by Smith (including a 3-pointer), and seven points from Friend. The third also had Burgess scoring two points, Zach Ahsaruk had four points and McIntosh scored two points. 

In the fourth quarter the Lions had six points from Smith, while Caleb Rice, Friend, Ahsaruk and Zayden Scott each scored two points. 

Friend and Smith each led Fairfield in scoring with 20 points. Smith made one 3-pointer, seven two-point baskets and he was 1-of-6 from the free-throw line. Friend’s 20 points saw him make nine two-point baskets and he was 2-of-4 in his free-throw attempts. 

Rice totaled 13 points with six two-point buckets and he was 1-of-2 from the free-throw line. Ahsaruk scored six points in the win with three made baskets, and McIntosh also scored six points off three baskets. Burgess totaled four points for the Lions, and Scott had two points. 

For the game the Lions totaled one 3-pointer, 31 two-point baskets, and they were 4-of-12 from the free-throw line. 

Paint Valley’s leading scorer was Jase Rinehart with 18 points, followed by Kayne Scott with seven points. The rest of the scoring by PVHS was: London Elliot (7), Carter Elliot (5) and Brennen Ison (6). 

BOX SCORE 
FHS    16 20 21 14 — 71
PVHS    06 10 17 12 — 45

On Saturday, Dec. 27, the Fairfield Lions earned a Southern Hills Athletic Conference Div. II win as they defeated the host Manchester Greyhounds, 58-48. 

Fairfield held a four-point lead at the end of the first frame by a 12-8 score, and after a 20-15 second quarter the Lions led 33-23 at halftime. The Lions won the third frame at 12-10, and it was Manchester outscoring the Lions in the fourth quarter at 15-14. 

The Lions had five players reach the scoring column as Brody Smith led the way with 25 points, with two 3-pointers, six two-pointers, and he was 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. Griffin Friend finished with 15 points, as his points came from two 3-pointers, four two-point baskets, and he was 1-of-2 in his free-throw attempts. 

Quentin McIntosh scored 12 points in the victory as he made five two-point buckets and he was also 2-of-4 from the free-throw line. Caleb Rice finished the game with five points off a 3-pointer and two-point basket, while teammate Joel Matthews added one point. 

The Greyhounds’ leading scorer was Braylon Rickett with 15 points, while Luke Applegate scored 11 points. The remaining scoring totals for MHS were: Parker Hayslip (8), Landen Doyle (3), Joel Blythe (3) and Clayton Colvin (9). 

Team totals for Manchester saw them score four 3-pointers, 17 two-point baskets and they were 10-of-15 from the free-throw line. 

The trio of games leaves the Lions at 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the SHAC Div. II standings. 

FHS is scheduled to play again Tuesday, Dec. 30 against the East Clinton Astros in non-conference action. 

BOX SCORE
FHS     12 20 12 14 — 58
MHS    08 15 10 15 — 48