Lions upend host West Union as Smith scores 36 points; FHS then falls to Cedarville

In a game played on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at West Union High School, the Fairfield Lions defeated the West Union Dragons in convincing fashion by a 71-22 score for the Southern Hills Athletic Conference win. 

The Lions started strong with a 24-point first frame and followed that with 21 points in the second quarter. Their defense held WUHS to six points in the first quarter and four in the second for a halftime score and lead of 45-10. 

The second half saw the Lions outscore West Union 15-7 in the third and 11-5 in the fourth quarter. 

FHS totaled 13 two-point baskets, 12 3-pointers, and they were 9-of-13 from the free-throw line. The Lions shot 52.1 percent from the field, as they were 66.7 percent from beyond the arc (3-pointers). 

The Lions also collected team totals that included 28 rebounds (10 offensive), 19 assists, four steals and two blocks. FHS had just seven turnovers for the game and one personal foul. 

Brody Smith led the Lions with 36 points where he finished with nine 3-pointers, two two-point baskets, and he was 5-of-7 from the free-throw line. Smith also had four rebounds, six assists, one steal and one blocked shot. 

Griffin Friend totaled 17 points on the night, making six two-pointers, one 3-pointer and he was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. Friend also had four rebounds and seven assists. 

Zach Ahsaruk totaled six points with two 2-pointers, while teammate Caleb Rice had four points, along with five rebounds and two assists. 

Spring two points each were Quentin McIntosh, Layne Burgess, Landyn Hodson and Zayden Scott. McIntosh also led the Lions with 10 rebounds (four offensive), plus three assists and one block. 

Burgess totaled three rebounds and one assist, while Hoskins had two rebounds and two steals.

BOX SCORE
FHS        24 21 15 11 — 71
WUHS    06 04 07 05 — 22

The Fairfield Lions then hosted the Cedarville Indians on Saturday, Jan. 10, where they lost the non-conference game by a 64-56 score at Grandle Gymnasium inside of Fairfield High School. 

Cedarville led early at 14-9 after the first quarter, then following CHS winning the second frame by one point at 18-17, it was the visitors leading the Lions 32-26 at halftime. 

The second half saw the Indians score 17 points and FHS added 15 points to their total, then in the fourth quarter each team scored 15 points. 

Fairfield’s leading scorer for the game was Griffin Friend with 20 points, making eight two-point baskets, and he was 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. He also had five rebounds, six assists and two steals. 

Brody Smith added 17 points to the Lions’ total, making three 3-pointers and four two-point baskets. Smith also collected two rebounds, two assists and a steal. 

The Lions saw Caleb Rice finish with eight points with two 3-pointers and a two-pointer, plus he totaled two rebounds, one assist and one steal. 

Quentin McIntosh ended the game with six points as he connected with three two-point buckets, and he collected nine rebounds (four offensive), one assist and one block. 

Landyn Hoskins finished with three points off a 3-pointer, plus he had one rebound. Layne Burgess totaled two points. 

The win moves Cedarville to 10-1 overall. 

Following their two most recent games, the Lions are now 6-4 overall with a 3-3 record in the SHAC Division II standings. 

Next for Fairfield (3-3, 6-4) is an away SHAC game on Tuesday, Jan. 13 against Highland County counterpart, the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs (2-4, 4-7). 

BOX SCORE
CHS    14 18 17 15 — 64
FHS     09 17 15 15 — 56