2025-26 Basketball Preview: Fairfield Lions

The Fairfield Lions begin the 2025-26 season with the same goals and mindset as usual since head coach Quentin Williams arrived four seasons ago, and that means he, his coaching staff and roster of players are ready to compete at an intense level on the court. 

Playing their home games at Grandle Gymnasium, the Lions return this season with three starters from a year ago and six players who played varsity basketball. The roster consists of 12 players, including two seniors, five juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen. 

The Lions are the reigning three-time consecutive Southern Hills Athletic Conference champions, winning Division II titles the past two seasons. Last year, Fairfield averaged 55.6 points per game in SHAC games and allowed 40.6 ppg. Overall, FHS averaged 55.23 ppg last season and allowed 43.3 ppg, as the Lions were 11-2 in the SHAC last season and 18-7 overall. Williams was selected the Division VII Tri-Coach of the Year by the District 14 Coaches Association last season.

Fairfield’s two seniors are Quentin McIntosh (forward) and Zach Ahsaruk (guard). The five juniors are Layne Burgess (guard), Caleb Rice (guard), Landyn Hoskins (guard/forward), Brody Smith (guard) and Griffin Friend (guard). 

Smith was the Lions’ leading scorer last season with a 16.4 ppg average, while also averaging 3.7 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game and 1.6 steals per game. Smith’s totals last season were 411 points, 92 rebounds, 36 assists, 41 steals and nine blocks. Smith was All-SHAC, first-team Coaches All-District, first-team OPSMA All-District and special mention All-Ohio for his play last season.

Friend a season ago averaged 11.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.2 spg. He also totaled 280 points, 123 rebounds, 82 assists, 29 steals and seven blocks. Friend was honorable mention Coaches All-District and third-team OPSMA All-District last season.

McIntosh ended last season with 3.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, with 97 points, 136 rebounds, 18 assists, 21 steals and 16 blocks. 

The Lions’ two sophomores are Parker Price (forward) and Logan Burgess (guard). Freshmen for FHS are Cam Caudill (guard) and Tyrus Cumberland (guard). 

Assistant coaches for the Lions are Scott Williams, Raymond Friend and Brandtson Duffie. 

“I am always excited every year for each individual player to work toward a new role, how they embrace it and how they make others around them better while continually improving themselves,” Williams said.

The Lions’ offseason was full of time spent working on skill development and being in the weight room as the Lions worked on gaining an edge on their opponents for the 2025-26 season as they “embrace the standard.

“We always try our best to spend a lot of time in the offseason with skill development, in the weight room and playing/spending time with one another to try to develop a competitive edge,” Williams said. “Offseason for me is just as important as the season itself, so it is always emphasized to be committed and embrace the standard.”

Working on their overall games in practice is important for Williams and his team, as he spoke about how his team is competing with each other to become better players on the court, and that also included working on things they want to improve on as well. 

“We have had practices already where we are truly competing with one another, which is always a good sign early on,” he said. “A lot of us are embracing new leadership roles and working on being consistent every day, and I have seen growth from everyone when it comes to that. 

“Our biggest areas we need to improve on is mental resilience when we face circumstances that are not ideal and the ability to respond to that, as well as having a mental focus every day that allows us to be consistent with our approach and what we expect from one another.”

The Lions have won no less than 18 games in each of the past three seasons under Williams, with totals of 24 (2022-23), 22 (2023-24) and 18 (2024-25), so the expectations for Williams and his team are up to a high standard. Williams described his team with the following words: “Growing, hardworking and uplifting of one another.

“My expectations are to focus on the controllables every day, have a strong work ethic and competitiveness that grows which gives us the ability to continually improve that way we are in alignment with our standards to compete for a SHAC title and district championship,” he said. “I believe the SHAC will be extremely competitive and even from top to bottom this year.”

Fairfield’s Division II SHAC schedule isn’t easy with two games each against Fayetteville, Manchester, Peebles and Whiteoak. Also, they’ll face Division I SHAC foes Eastern, Lynchburg-Clay, North Adams, Ripley and West Union once apiece. 

The non-conference schedule is strong, in keeping with the history of the Fairfield program, and that is the case once again this season with the Lions scheduled to take on the following teams: vs. Valley (Battle in the 740), at Paint Valley, at East Clinton, vs. Western Latham (Chad Hodson Classic), vs. Cedarville, at Hillsboro, at McClain, vs. Unioto and vs. Adena. 

“We always try to challenge ourselves with playing historically successful programs and schools of a much larger size than us,” Williams said. “We play many FAC (Frontier Athletic Conference) opponents, as well as Unioto, Cedarville and Western Latham, who always give us the best shot they have and are extremely well coached.

“I’m excited to see where we are at the end of the year.”

The Lions open the 2025-26 season at home in conference action against Fayetteville on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. 

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