Lady Lions earn win over Hillsboro

     Using inside play from senior Gabby Boone and junior Chelsey Riddle the Fairfield Lady Lions earned their first win of the season Saturday night, defeating the Hillsboro Lady Indians 57-34.

     The game was the first varsity girls basketball contest at the new Hillsboro basketball court.

     FHS ran away with the opening quarter by out scoring the Lady Indians (0-2, 0-5) 20-7.

     “It feels good to get our first win of the year,” FHS head coach Matt Hodson said. “This was a good win for us.”

     Fairfield senior Lauren Bowman opened the game with a 3-pointer, followed by teammate, junior Megan Sword, banking in a bucket inside the paint. Riddle then grabbed an offensive rebound and made a put back basket. Boone then entered the scoring column with inside points for a 9-0 lead

     The first basket for the Lady Indians in their new gym came at the 5:16 mark of the first with senior Megan Barnes knocking down a jumper.

     The duo of Boone and Riddle continued to dominate inside with back-to-back layups for 13-2 advantage. Boone finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double. Riddle ended with a game-high 20 points. Riddle also had 22 rebounds for the double-double. The junior also had four blocks, three assists and one steal.

     “Chelsey (Riddle) and Gabby (Boone) each had good games. This is what they do,” Hodson said. “Lauren also played well, and all three of them are a good trio and work well together. Chelsey is back from a sprained ankle and just played outstanding.”

     Bowman ended the first quarter the same way she started it, nailing a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Bowman finished with six points and four steals.

     Scoring was scarce in the second with both teams combining nine points. Riddle made the score 22-7 with a turnaround jumper. Boone scored next with a layup to make the score 24-7 at the 4:19 mark of the quarter.

     Barnes connected with a 3-pointer with 3:21 left in the first half. HHS senior Julie Shafer sank a jumper with 1:20 left in the quarter for the final points of the first half for either team. Barnes led HHS with 15 points.

     In the third, Riddle began with consecutive buckets, but Barnes came back with a wide-open 3 pointer. Boone answered with a put back basket to give FHS a 15-point lead with 3:45 left in the third.

     HHS sophomore Whitney Earley converted a free throw late in the quarter. Her points were followed by a 3-pointer from senior teammate Shelby Coyle. The HHS run continued with a steal and full court run to the hoop by senior Heather Storer.

     Riddle came back to end the third with a three-point play, then started the fourth with another retro-style three-point play to make the score 39-23.

     HHS junior A.J. Sanders sank a free throw, followed with Sword increasing the FHS lead to 41-24. Sword scored 10 points, while gaining eight boards, six steals and one steal against HHS.

     FHS senior Sadie Jones made a layup at the halfway point of the fourth.

     Hillsboro sophomore Morgan Price made consecutive 3-pointers within the final 3:00 of the game.

     “We played well, but it is the same thing in that we just can’t put the ball in the basket,” Hillsboro head coach Herb Mihalik said. “I was pleased with our defensive play. We cut down our turnovers and now we have to prepare for Washington.”

     FHS out rebounded the Lady Indians 52-20.  HHS forced the Lady Lions into 27 turnovers, with HHS committing 15.

     The loss drops HHS to 0-5 overall. The Lady Indians are 0-2 in the South Central Ohio League. FHS stands at 1-2 overall, 0-1 in the Southern Hills League.

     FHS will play again Monday as they host West Union with JV play starting at 6 p.m. HHS will play again Saturday as they host the Washington Lady Blue Lions at 8 p.m.

BOX SCORE

SCORE BY QUARTERS

FHS – 20 4 12 21 – 57

HHS – 7 5 11 11 – 34

INDIVIDUAL STATS

FHS (57)

M.Sword 4 2-3 10, S.Jones 1 2, L.Bowman 0 (2) 6, C.Riddle 9 2-8 20, G.Boone 9 1-2 19. TOTALS: 23 (2) 5-13 57.

HHS (34)

M.Price 0 (2) 6, S.Coyle 0 (1) 3, W.Earley 1 1-2 3, J.Shafer 2 4, H.Storer 1 2, M.Barnes 3 (2) 3-3 15, A.Sanders 0 1-1 1. TOTALS: 7 (5) 5-7 34.