District Tournament Preview: Lions set to take on TVC champ Eastern (Reedsville)
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG — The time has come for the Fairfield Lions. Though their upcoming Division IV SE District Semifinal game has been switched, the Lions are prepared to take on the Eastern (Reedsville) Falcons this Monday at the Ohio University Convocation Center, in Athens, with a trip to the district finals on the line.
This is the third trip to the Convo in the past four years for the Lions.
The Lions (10-11) will enter the game off a sectional championship win over Portsmouth Clay on March 1 at Valley High School in Lucasville. In that game, FHS had four players finish in double figures, with senior Chris Cox, who is a 1,000-plus point scorer, scoring 17 points. Also finishing in double figures in the sectional final were seniors Cameron Rolark (14), Ian Adams (11) and Cody Ferrell (10).
For the Eastern (Reedsville) Eagles, they are the champions of the Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division, where there are nine teams. They enter the game with an overall record of 18-3 as they went 17-3 in the regular season (14-2 TVC) and gained their sectional championship with a 51-32 win over St. Joseph Central on March 2.
"Eastern (Reedsville) is a scrappy, disciplined basketball team. They are skilled defensively," FHS head coach Matt Carson said. "They play an aggressive style of man-to-man that compares to the type that McClain runs."
Eastern, who are coached by Howie Caldwell, started the 2010-11 regular season with eight straight wins, then they lost two of their next three games. The Eagles ended the regular season by winning eight of their last nine games. In their last 10 games, including tournament games, they are 9-1.
In February, the Eagles defeated South Gallia, Belpre, Waterford, Trimble and Southern (Purple Tornados).
Their three losses this season have come against Southern (43-35), Valley (55-50) and Wahama (56-52).
Leaders for the Eagles are seniors Devon Baum (6-0), Tyler Hendrix (6-0) and Brayden Pratt (5-9). Those three players have combined for 11 games of 17 or more points this season. Baum has scored 17 points three times, along with games of 18, 19 and 24 points. Hendrix has scored 24 points in a game once this season, along with eight 19- and 18-point games. Pratt scored 21 points in a game, along with a 17-point effort this year.
As a team, the Eagles average 55 points per game, scoring 1,146 points this season in 21 games.
"They are a small ball club but are very patient with the basketball and don't normally take a bad shot on offense," Carson said. "Tyler Hendrix and Kyle Connery are their two best players.
"I would compare them to Eastern Brown from our league (Southern Hills League), as they are a physical ball club that likes to get after it on the defensive end."
The Lions will have the height advantage again in postseason play, as no player on the Eagles stands over 6-0.
"If we utilize our height and can run our offense from the inside out and limit their opportunities, that will benefit us," Carson said. "They are a very well-coached basketball team by one of the best coaches in Southern Ohio in coach Howie Caldwell."
The game was originally scheduled for Thursday, March 10, but since the Eastern girls team is scheduled to play on that same night, the SE District switched the game to Monday at 6:15 instead of Thursday at the same time.
"As far as the game getting switched, it has seemed to be a spark more than anything," Carson said. "I think the kids are excited to play earlier and not have to do the long layoff like the sectional game. We are looking forward to the challenge and feel like we match up well with them."
FHS and the Eastern Eagles tip-off at 6:15 p.m. on Monday at the OU Convocation Center, in Athens.[[In-content Ad]]
This is the third trip to the Convo in the past four years for the Lions.
The Lions (10-11) will enter the game off a sectional championship win over Portsmouth Clay on March 1 at Valley High School in Lucasville. In that game, FHS had four players finish in double figures, with senior Chris Cox, who is a 1,000-plus point scorer, scoring 17 points. Also finishing in double figures in the sectional final were seniors Cameron Rolark (14), Ian Adams (11) and Cody Ferrell (10).
For the Eastern (Reedsville) Eagles, they are the champions of the Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division, where there are nine teams. They enter the game with an overall record of 18-3 as they went 17-3 in the regular season (14-2 TVC) and gained their sectional championship with a 51-32 win over St. Joseph Central on March 2.
"Eastern (Reedsville) is a scrappy, disciplined basketball team. They are skilled defensively," FHS head coach Matt Carson said. "They play an aggressive style of man-to-man that compares to the type that McClain runs."
Eastern, who are coached by Howie Caldwell, started the 2010-11 regular season with eight straight wins, then they lost two of their next three games. The Eagles ended the regular season by winning eight of their last nine games. In their last 10 games, including tournament games, they are 9-1.
In February, the Eagles defeated South Gallia, Belpre, Waterford, Trimble and Southern (Purple Tornados).
Their three losses this season have come against Southern (43-35), Valley (55-50) and Wahama (56-52).
Leaders for the Eagles are seniors Devon Baum (6-0), Tyler Hendrix (6-0) and Brayden Pratt (5-9). Those three players have combined for 11 games of 17 or more points this season. Baum has scored 17 points three times, along with games of 18, 19 and 24 points. Hendrix has scored 24 points in a game once this season, along with eight 19- and 18-point games. Pratt scored 21 points in a game, along with a 17-point effort this year.
As a team, the Eagles average 55 points per game, scoring 1,146 points this season in 21 games.
"They are a small ball club but are very patient with the basketball and don't normally take a bad shot on offense," Carson said. "Tyler Hendrix and Kyle Connery are their two best players.
"I would compare them to Eastern Brown from our league (Southern Hills League), as they are a physical ball club that likes to get after it on the defensive end."
The Lions will have the height advantage again in postseason play, as no player on the Eagles stands over 6-0.
"If we utilize our height and can run our offense from the inside out and limit their opportunities, that will benefit us," Carson said. "They are a very well-coached basketball team by one of the best coaches in Southern Ohio in coach Howie Caldwell."
The game was originally scheduled for Thursday, March 10, but since the Eastern girls team is scheduled to play on that same night, the SE District switched the game to Monday at 6:15 instead of Thursday at the same time.
"As far as the game getting switched, it has seemed to be a spark more than anything," Carson said. "I think the kids are excited to play earlier and not have to do the long layoff like the sectional game. We are looking forward to the challenge and feel like we match up well with them."
FHS and the Eastern Eagles tip-off at 6:15 p.m. on Monday at the OU Convocation Center, in Athens.[[In-content Ad]]