The Lions opened up strong, went down, and were never able to retain their early lead as they dropped their 2011-12 season opener to the East Clinton Astros 76-66 Friday night at Grandle Gymnasium in Leesburg.

To say the young Fairfield Lady Lions are learning on the run is an understatement. The first test of their 2011-12 season came on Monday night against the East Clinton Lady Astros, and well … they Lady Lions passed with flying colors, defeating EC 49-45 for a non-league win.

To say the young Fairfield Lady Lions are learning on the run is an understatement. The first test of their 2011-12 season came on Monday night against the East Clinton Lady Astros, and well … they Lady Lions passed with flying colors, defeating EC 49-45 for a non-league win.

There was more than just basketball going on Saturday night at Fairfield High School. The community of Leesburg arrived in full force to pay tribute to Stephen Barcus as his memory was honored throughout the evening at Grandle Gymnasium.

There was more than just basketball going on Saturday night at Fairfield High School. The community of Leesburg arrived in full force to pay tribute to Stephen Barcus as his memory was honored throughout the evening at Grandle Gymnasium.

The Fairfield Lions are rebuilding from a successful season last year as they reached the district finals, bringing in four new starters to this season's squad as they look to repeat or even surpass that feat once again.

The Fairfield Lions are rebuilding from a successful season last year as they reached the district finals, bringing in four new starters to this season's squad as they look to repeat or even surpass that feat once again.

This season, the four Fairfield seniors will not only be playing for themselves and their overall success, but will be playing with a heavy heart as they will be playing for the memory of one of their own in Stephen "Peanut" Barcus, as he passed away this past summer.

If any team is enduring a rebuilding year, learning year or a year where a team can be described as a “young team,” then it is the 2011-12 Fairfield Lady Lions.

The four sophomores on the Fairfield Lady Lions girls basketball team are a part of a unique situation entering the 2011-12 high school basketball  season. The group of Heather Cox, Shelby Smithson, Cynnamon Sova-Davy and Courtney Hodson will have to grow up in a hurry as they are the upperclassmen on the team.

This year’s Foundation Game is a special one in the hearts of the Fairfield community and its basketball team, as all proceeds from the game will go to the Stephen “Peanut” Barcus Memorial Fund in honor of former Fairfield student and basketball player, Stephen Barcus.

The 2011 Southern Hills League boys and girls basketball previews will take place at Manchester and Peebles. The girls preview will be held at PHS on Friday, Nov. 18, and the boys preview will take place at MHS on Friday, Nov. 25.

On Sunday, Nov. 13, the Southern Hills League Volleyball All-Star game was held at Fairfield High School.

As the rest of Ohio was counting and casting votes, the McClain Lady Tigers and Fairfield Lady Lions were tallying points and shooting hoops as they took part in a scrimmage at Grandle Gymnasium on Tuesday night.

As the rest of Ohio was counting and casting votes, the McClain Lady Tigers and Fairfield Lady Lions were tallying points and shooting hoops as they took part in a scrimmage at Grandle Gymnasium on Tuesday night.