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Fairfield Lions handed first loss in district finals, ending storybook season

Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
ATHENS — The storybook season for the Fairfield Lions had its final chapter written on Thursday night in the Division IV SE District Finals as their undefeated streak of 24 consecutive wins came to a close as the Franklin Furnace Green Bobcats defeated the Lions, 43-38 at the Ohio University Convocation Center.

This was the Lions’ fourth consecutive season playing in the finals, as they are 0-4 in that span and have now been district runners-up 10 times in program history. The Lions are three-time district champions in program history, with the most recent being 2014.

As for this season, the Lions went on an amazing run of basketball, facing adversity midway through the season, but overcoming that to finish the regular season 22-0, with a 13-0 record in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference Division I standings. They also won a sectional championship, the 20th such championship in the history of the program. 

The Lions (24-1) didn’t have their best play in the opening quarter as Green led the frame, 11-4 after eight minutes played. Fairfield was first to score in the game with a basket by Larkin Friend, and after the Bobcats scored their first points of the game, the Lions regained the lead with two points from Gunner Bennington with 5:48 left on the first quarter clock.

For the remainder of the quarter, though, it was all Green on the scoreboard, with the Bobcats outscoring the Lions, 9-0 to end the frame for an 11-4 lead over Fairfield. 

Fairfield didn’t hold the lead in the second quarter, getting as close to three points from the lead with 54.8 left in the second frame off a made free throw from Friend as he was fouled following a steal.

In the second frame for the Lions, Wyatt Collins started the quarter with a basket, then in a span of 22 seconds Trey House sank a 3-pointer, getting the Lions to within five points of the Bobcats’ lead.

Those points eventually turned into a 7-0 run for the Lions with Bennington driving through the Green defense, followed by the aforementioned free throw from Friend. Green ended the quarter with two points, leaving the Lions trailing by five points at halftime by a 17-12 score.

“I just thought we buried ourselves there in the first half,” Fairfield head coach Quentin Williams said. “I thought we had a good defensive effort tonight for the most part — some missed rotations and stuff like that, but that's going to happen in a game.

“Offensively, we just didn't shoot the ball well, and especially there toward the fourth quarter, I thought we got a lot of open looks, especially from three, and they just didn't fall. Sometimes, that's the way the ball falls. I mean, you can kind of tell how it's going. My kids played their butt off, and I'm proud of them, but credit to Green, they came ready to play.”

Coming out of the halftime break, things really got interesting with the Lions outscoring Green, 13-8 in the quarter, leaving the score tied at 25 after the quarter ended. 

Green opened the frame with a 3-pointer by Levi Blevins, but Fairfield equaled the feat with trey of their own by Bennington with 5:10 left in the third. Blevins made his second 3-pointer of the quarter at the 4:45 mark of the quarter, but the Lions built an 8-0 run from the 4:24 mark to the 1:18 mark of the third, beginning with a layup by Friend, followed by two free-throw conversions by TJ Mootz, a layup from Bennington and a layup by Friend, as he battled his way to the hoop for a 23-23 score. 

Both teams scored points in the final 39 seconds of the quarter, with Fairfield tying the score at 25 off two points from Mootz. 

The Lions held the lead in the fourth quarter as Bennngton opened the frame with a 3-pointer, and after Green had a two-point basket, Collins was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer and made the ensuing three free throws for a 31-27 lead with 6:40 left in regulation. 

Then Green kicked their play into high gear with 3-pointers from Levi Waddell and Gabe McBee, taking a two-point lead with 5:24 left in the district final game. The Lions called a timeout and tied the score at 33 with a basket by Bennington. 

Green came back even stronger, with six points off fast-break plays and aggressive defense, forcing turnovers and taking a six-point lead at 39-33 with 2:19 remaining, forcing the Lions to call a timeout. 

After the return to action, Friend scored two points off a turnover, but Green scored the next three points from the free-throw line, putting the Lions down seven points at 42-35.

Fairfield continued to battle with Collins sinking a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left on the clock, but Green hit a free throw, and the Lions missed their final couple shot attempts as time ran out. 

The Lions were led in scoring by Bennington with 12 points, while Friend totaled nine points. 

Also for the Lions, Collins totaled eight points, and other final scoring totals for FHS included six points from Mootz and three points by House. 

As a team, the Lions totaled 10 two-point baskets, four 3-pointers and were 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. 

Green was led by Gabe McBee with 14 points, followed by Levi Sampson with 11 points, Levi Blevins with eight points. Also for Green, Abe McBee totaled six points, Jon Knapp had one point and Levi Waddell scored three points. 

This season, the Lions set the boys program record for wins in a season with 24.

“It’s so special — 24-0 at the time, 24-1 on the season — that's the most wins in school history, first time undefeated in school history, gold ball for the second time in school history,” Williams said. “I mean, we've accomplished a lot, but that's really not what I'm proud of. We had a choice in the middle of the season to either stick together and fight through this and stick through the adversity, or fold. And, man, the way my kids responded, they stuck together.

“To just get to this point, I'm so proud of them. So many teams would have done the exact opposite, they would have folded, they would’ve made excuses, and we just came closer together.”

Williams also spoke about his seniors, Gunner Bennington, Wyatt Collins and TJ Mootz.

“I've spent every day of my life with these kids for the past five years, so it's definitely going to be tough,” he said. “I love them to death. I think the world of them. It's not going to feel the same waking up tomorrow and not having practice, and once we do start practicing again, not seeing TJ Mootz or Wyatt Collins or Gunner Bennington in the gym with us. But they've set the foundation for what Fairfield basketball should be like, and they're selfless, they’re loving, they're resilient, and they fight to the end.

“I don't remember one time that I thought a kid has ever been selfish the entire season. I mean, we make bad decisions, sometimes, even tonight, making reads and stuff. But I've never had to worry about kids being selfish. They're so selfless, ultimate teammate mentality, and they just want to come and play for each other, and that's why I said they built this culture.”

Williams continued to credit his team’s resiliency as he reflected on his first year as a varsity head coach at FHS.

“I pictured something like this, and I told him at the beginning of the year, if we do the things the right way, then we can achieve a lot,” he said.
“But you know, for them to come out here, and deal with all the adversity that we have, from being injured to losing their best player to whatever it be, it's so special.

“It hurts right now, but when we look back on this, man, these kids are going to do great things in life because of how resilient they are and the people they are. I can't wait to watch him grow up and grow into great young men, and I'm so proud of them.”

Williams also thanked the Leesburg community and other fans across Highland County for their support throughout the season.

“I felt like we had a lot of targets on our backs and on my back, being a first-year head coach,” Williams said. “The more we won, the more I felt like people wanted to see us lose, but that just only brought us together and brought our community together and brought other people to come support us. I've got so much support from so many different people. I can't thank everybody enough, from team meals, sponsoring things, supporting us throughout the year, cheering us on, watching us online, whatever it may be.

“It's been a heck of a year, and I don't know how I’m going to top this year.”
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