Basketball Preview: Fairfield Lions - SHL
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Though the Fairfield Lions boys basketball program changed head coaches this season, it isn't like the program is starting over, as the players are familiar with their new coach and are motivated and ready to chase the elusive Southern Hills League title.
Fairfield is welcoming back Everett Snyder as the head coach at the varsity level for the 2012-13 season, replacing former head coach Matt Carson, who coached the Lions for the previous five seasons as he is now the head coach at Westfall.
For Snyder, this is the third time he's been at the helm of the Lion varsity program, as recently he was the JV head coach and a junior high coach, which means he's familiar with virtually every player in the basketball program.
"I really haven't been gone," Snyder said of returning as head coach. "I've coached these guys from seventh grade, some in pee-wee. I've had them all in freshman and JV ball. I haven't been gone from the program that much, but back at the varsity helm, I'm glad to be back.
"I'm excited about this season here and that I get to coach this group. We want to win the small division of the league and make it back to the Convocation Center and go from there."
Last season, the Lions were ousted in the sectional round of the postseason, and two seasons ago they played in the district final game. The veteran players of this squad have seen the highs of the program as they make traveling back to the district round at the Ohio University Convocation Center one of their main goals, but first, they not only want to have the best record in Division II of the SHL, but they want to be the overall champions of the league.
The last time the Lions were champions of the SHL was back in 2000. Last season, FHS went 11-10 overall and 7-6 in league games, giving them a second-place finish in Division II of the league.
Fairfield has five players returning to the varsity program who saw a lot of action, while some of the returning players also played at the JV level one year ago.
The Lions have their top four scorers from last season returning in senior Quentin Williams, senior Bradley Clay, junior Gage Montgomery and junior Blake Hildebrant.
Williams played in 19 games last season (missed two games due to illness), where he scored 275 points for a 14.5 ppg average, along with shooting 45 percent from the field (39 percent from the 3-point line). Williams also tallied 74 assists to lead FHS, along with 109 rebounds, 60 steals and eight blocked shots.
Clay returns with 21 games of experience from last season where he scored 10.1 ppg last year as he totaled 213 points. Defensively, Clay totaled 83 rebounds (37 offensive), a team-high 28 blocked shots, 21 steals and 14 assists.
[[In-content Ad]]
Montgomery played in 19 games last season as he played at both levels during parts of the season. On the defensive side, he totaled 62 rebounds, 18 assists, 16 steals and added eight blocked shots. On the other side of the court, he added 136 points (7.2 ppg).
Hildebrant averaged 6.8 ppg in 21 games for a total of 142 scored. As a sophomore, he had the best free-throw shooting percentage of any player on the Lions at 76 percent (53-for-70), while adding 43 rebounds (13 offensive), 35 assists, 33 steals and four blocked shots.
FHS returns five full-time varsity players from last season.
Also returning is senior Elijah Carmean, who totaled 16 rebounds, 15 assists, five steals, while adding 57 points in a balanced effort. He shot 67 percent from the free-throw line and was third on the team in 3-pointers made with 11.
"The biggest difference as a team is we should be more athletic, and team speed is the biggest difference," Snyder said. "The seniors last year were good, fundamentally sound players, but some of the kids coming up can add to the speed of the team.
"They kind of know what style of basketball I like to play, and the personnel fits that style, too."
What is that style of play?
"We are going to look to be an up-tempo team," Snyder said. "We like to pressure the basketball and get it out and run, but a lot of that hinges on playing good, solid defense. A lot of it will just depend on how well we play defense and transition it to an offense."
This preseason for the Lions has included scrimmages against Georgetown, Western Brown, Paint Valley and Piketon. In the preview, FHS faces Peebles for two quarters.
"We're an athletic team, and the guys coming up from the JV squad went 18-2 last season," Snyder said. "That's with Gage playing half the season at JV (he moved to varsity in late December). We have some good talent coming through and kids that know how to win."
Some of those players from that team who will be varsity now include Ryan Bates, Cody Bennett, Joey Wilson, Wyatt Crothers, Shay Snyder and Tyler Sims.
FHS lost four seniors from one year ago in Cole Putnam, Austin Hildebrant, Wesley Willey and Austin May.
Coach Snyder said his team is balanced as multiple players are capable of leading the team in scoring for a given game.
"On any given night, we have four or five kids who can score for us," he said. "Quentin (three years at varsity) or Blake (two years) ... both of those guys I expect to score.
"Ryan, Brad or Gage will play well, too … any given night, one of those guys can lead us. To be successful, though, we'll need balanced scoring from five to six different players."
Fairfield is welcoming back Everett Snyder as the head coach at the varsity level for the 2012-13 season, replacing former head coach Matt Carson, who coached the Lions for the previous five seasons as he is now the head coach at Westfall.
For Snyder, this is the third time he's been at the helm of the Lion varsity program, as recently he was the JV head coach and a junior high coach, which means he's familiar with virtually every player in the basketball program.
"I really haven't been gone," Snyder said of returning as head coach. "I've coached these guys from seventh grade, some in pee-wee. I've had them all in freshman and JV ball. I haven't been gone from the program that much, but back at the varsity helm, I'm glad to be back.
"I'm excited about this season here and that I get to coach this group. We want to win the small division of the league and make it back to the Convocation Center and go from there."
Last season, the Lions were ousted in the sectional round of the postseason, and two seasons ago they played in the district final game. The veteran players of this squad have seen the highs of the program as they make traveling back to the district round at the Ohio University Convocation Center one of their main goals, but first, they not only want to have the best record in Division II of the SHL, but they want to be the overall champions of the league.
The last time the Lions were champions of the SHL was back in 2000. Last season, FHS went 11-10 overall and 7-6 in league games, giving them a second-place finish in Division II of the league.
Fairfield has five players returning to the varsity program who saw a lot of action, while some of the returning players also played at the JV level one year ago.
The Lions have their top four scorers from last season returning in senior Quentin Williams, senior Bradley Clay, junior Gage Montgomery and junior Blake Hildebrant.
Williams played in 19 games last season (missed two games due to illness), where he scored 275 points for a 14.5 ppg average, along with shooting 45 percent from the field (39 percent from the 3-point line). Williams also tallied 74 assists to lead FHS, along with 109 rebounds, 60 steals and eight blocked shots.
Clay returns with 21 games of experience from last season where he scored 10.1 ppg last year as he totaled 213 points. Defensively, Clay totaled 83 rebounds (37 offensive), a team-high 28 blocked shots, 21 steals and 14 assists.
[[In-content Ad]]
Montgomery played in 19 games last season as he played at both levels during parts of the season. On the defensive side, he totaled 62 rebounds, 18 assists, 16 steals and added eight blocked shots. On the other side of the court, he added 136 points (7.2 ppg).
Hildebrant averaged 6.8 ppg in 21 games for a total of 142 scored. As a sophomore, he had the best free-throw shooting percentage of any player on the Lions at 76 percent (53-for-70), while adding 43 rebounds (13 offensive), 35 assists, 33 steals and four blocked shots.
FHS returns five full-time varsity players from last season.
Also returning is senior Elijah Carmean, who totaled 16 rebounds, 15 assists, five steals, while adding 57 points in a balanced effort. He shot 67 percent from the free-throw line and was third on the team in 3-pointers made with 11.
"The biggest difference as a team is we should be more athletic, and team speed is the biggest difference," Snyder said. "The seniors last year were good, fundamentally sound players, but some of the kids coming up can add to the speed of the team.
"They kind of know what style of basketball I like to play, and the personnel fits that style, too."
What is that style of play?
"We are going to look to be an up-tempo team," Snyder said. "We like to pressure the basketball and get it out and run, but a lot of that hinges on playing good, solid defense. A lot of it will just depend on how well we play defense and transition it to an offense."
This preseason for the Lions has included scrimmages against Georgetown, Western Brown, Paint Valley and Piketon. In the preview, FHS faces Peebles for two quarters.
"We're an athletic team, and the guys coming up from the JV squad went 18-2 last season," Snyder said. "That's with Gage playing half the season at JV (he moved to varsity in late December). We have some good talent coming through and kids that know how to win."
Some of those players from that team who will be varsity now include Ryan Bates, Cody Bennett, Joey Wilson, Wyatt Crothers, Shay Snyder and Tyler Sims.
FHS lost four seniors from one year ago in Cole Putnam, Austin Hildebrant, Wesley Willey and Austin May.
Coach Snyder said his team is balanced as multiple players are capable of leading the team in scoring for a given game.
"On any given night, we have four or five kids who can score for us," he said. "Quentin (three years at varsity) or Blake (two years) ... both of those guys I expect to score.
"Ryan, Brad or Gage will play well, too … any given night, one of those guys can lead us. To be successful, though, we'll need balanced scoring from five to six different players."