District Final Preview: Lions, Jeeps meet again, this time for a district championship
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LEESBURG — The Fairfield Lions are on the verge of accomplishing something they haven't done since 1996 … being a district champion.
The Lions (11-11), a No. 5 seed, will take on No. 2 seed South Webster on Saturday, March 12 with the district title on the line, along with a trip to the Division IV Regional tournament.
Last year in the sectional tournament the Lions fell to the Jeeps of South Webster High School (50-43), but this postseason, the Lions are on a tear, winning two tournament games, along the way knocking out No. 1 seed Eastern-Meigs (Reedsville) 43-41.
Saturday's game will start at 10:30 a.m. at the Convocation Center in Athens.
For the Jeeps, they enter the game at 17-4 overall, defeating Eastern Pike in the district semifinals 57-34. In that game, the Jeeps held Eastern Pike to single-digit scoring in three of the four quarters played, not allowing over 10 points in a quarter.
"South Webster is a very athletic team. They do a good job of getting it down the floor and are also patient in the quarter-court set on offense," FHS head coach Matt Carson said. "Everything runs through their senior point guard, Connor Scott."
Against Eastern Pike the Jeeps were led by Scott (6-2) with 15 points. Scott is No. 5 for the Jeeps.
"He (Scott) is great at attacking the basket and finding the open man, as well as creating (opportunities) for himself," Carson said.
South Webster junior Austin Loop (6-4) with 12 points. For the game, the Jeeps had eight players in the scoring column. Senior Josh Wright (6-0) scored nine points, and senior Ashton Miller (5-7) added eight points. Also producing for the Jeeps in their district semifinal game was junior David Sutton (6-4) with seven points.
"They are also led by a junior forward (Austin) Loop, No. 10. He is a great shooter, rebounder, and can run the floor well for a big man," Carson said. "Their role players are no slouches either. They all do their jobs well and play as a unit each time I have seen them this year."
Defensively, the Jeeps are known for their aggression.
"They (South Webster) play good, aggressive man-to-man defense, and they are very well-coached," Carson said. "We have to know where their shooters are at all times, control the boards, and get to the free-throw line against them."
This season, the Jeeps' highest-scoring game came in an 84-76 win over Portsmouth Clay. The Lions defeated Clay in the sectional finals, 58-48. They have scored 1.194 points in 22 games, an average of 54.3 ppg. The Lions have scored 1.299 for a 22-game average of 59 ppg.
On the defensive side, the Jeeps have allowed 986 points, an average of 44.8 ppg. In two tournament games, they have allowed totals of 33 and 34 points. The Lions have allowed 1,241 points in 22 games, an average of 56.4 ppg. In their two tournament games, they have allowed 48 and 38 points.
South Webster (17-4) last won a district title in 2007, which was the final title in a streak of four straight, their only four district titles. Their all-time record in district play is 9-5, and they have won a tournament game the last three years.
As for the Lions, this will be their third tournament game this postseason, and they are preparing the right way, according to Carson, who is now in his fourth season at the helm of the Lions. Plus, the Lions are playing a team that knocked them out of the postseason one year ago.
"The boys are handling things the right way, I believe. We had a little talk this week about distractions and about how we need to focus on one thing, and that is playing the best that we're capable of on Saturday," Carson said. "As far as playing the team that knocked us out last year, at least there is some familiarity there. They know a lot of what we're going to try to do, and vice versa. It should be a fun game to watch."
FHS has two district titles in 1996 and 1978 and have been the runner-up in the district tournament three times (1997, '95 and '47). FHS is 56-57 overall in sectional/district play all-time.
The Lions and Jeeps will be the first game at the Convocation Center on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m.[[In-content Ad]]
The Lions (11-11), a No. 5 seed, will take on No. 2 seed South Webster on Saturday, March 12 with the district title on the line, along with a trip to the Division IV Regional tournament.
Last year in the sectional tournament the Lions fell to the Jeeps of South Webster High School (50-43), but this postseason, the Lions are on a tear, winning two tournament games, along the way knocking out No. 1 seed Eastern-Meigs (Reedsville) 43-41.
Saturday's game will start at 10:30 a.m. at the Convocation Center in Athens.
For the Jeeps, they enter the game at 17-4 overall, defeating Eastern Pike in the district semifinals 57-34. In that game, the Jeeps held Eastern Pike to single-digit scoring in three of the four quarters played, not allowing over 10 points in a quarter.
"South Webster is a very athletic team. They do a good job of getting it down the floor and are also patient in the quarter-court set on offense," FHS head coach Matt Carson said. "Everything runs through their senior point guard, Connor Scott."
Against Eastern Pike the Jeeps were led by Scott (6-2) with 15 points. Scott is No. 5 for the Jeeps.
"He (Scott) is great at attacking the basket and finding the open man, as well as creating (opportunities) for himself," Carson said.
South Webster junior Austin Loop (6-4) with 12 points. For the game, the Jeeps had eight players in the scoring column. Senior Josh Wright (6-0) scored nine points, and senior Ashton Miller (5-7) added eight points. Also producing for the Jeeps in their district semifinal game was junior David Sutton (6-4) with seven points.
"They are also led by a junior forward (Austin) Loop, No. 10. He is a great shooter, rebounder, and can run the floor well for a big man," Carson said. "Their role players are no slouches either. They all do their jobs well and play as a unit each time I have seen them this year."
Defensively, the Jeeps are known for their aggression.
"They (South Webster) play good, aggressive man-to-man defense, and they are very well-coached," Carson said. "We have to know where their shooters are at all times, control the boards, and get to the free-throw line against them."
This season, the Jeeps' highest-scoring game came in an 84-76 win over Portsmouth Clay. The Lions defeated Clay in the sectional finals, 58-48. They have scored 1.194 points in 22 games, an average of 54.3 ppg. The Lions have scored 1.299 for a 22-game average of 59 ppg.
On the defensive side, the Jeeps have allowed 986 points, an average of 44.8 ppg. In two tournament games, they have allowed totals of 33 and 34 points. The Lions have allowed 1,241 points in 22 games, an average of 56.4 ppg. In their two tournament games, they have allowed 48 and 38 points.
South Webster (17-4) last won a district title in 2007, which was the final title in a streak of four straight, their only four district titles. Their all-time record in district play is 9-5, and they have won a tournament game the last three years.
As for the Lions, this will be their third tournament game this postseason, and they are preparing the right way, according to Carson, who is now in his fourth season at the helm of the Lions. Plus, the Lions are playing a team that knocked them out of the postseason one year ago.
"The boys are handling things the right way, I believe. We had a little talk this week about distractions and about how we need to focus on one thing, and that is playing the best that we're capable of on Saturday," Carson said. "As far as playing the team that knocked us out last year, at least there is some familiarity there. They know a lot of what we're going to try to do, and vice versa. It should be a fun game to watch."
FHS has two district titles in 1996 and 1978 and have been the runner-up in the district tournament three times (1997, '95 and '47). FHS is 56-57 overall in sectional/district play all-time.
The Lions and Jeeps will be the first game at the Convocation Center on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m.[[In-content Ad]]