Lions top rival Whiteoak with 20-point win

The Fairfield Lions won on the road Friday night in their Highland County battle against conference rival Whiteoak, as they defeated the Wildcats 65-45 at Whiteoak High School. 

Fairfield’s 20-point win saw the Wildcats have a 12-point first quarter and another 12 points in the second, while Fairfield’s first half consisted of a 22-point first frame, followed by 12 points in the second for a 36-24 halftime advantage for the visiting Lions. 

With FHS entering the third quarter holding a 12-point lead, the Lions scored 14 points in the third frame and added a final 17 points in the fourth quarter. Whiteoak, in their second half, had nine points in the third quarter and 12 points in the fourth. 

The Lions were led in the scoring column by Brody Smith and Griffin Friend, with each scoring 20 points. Smith had two two-pointers, five 3-pointers and he was 1-of-2 from the free-throw line. Friend finished with seven two-point baskets and was 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. 

Fairfield’s Quentin McIntosh ended the game with 15 points and had 18 rebounds for a double-double. 

FHS also had nine points scored by Caleb Rice with three two-point buckets and one 3-pointer, while teammate Layne Burgess scored one point with a made free throw. 

Fairfield finished the game with 12 two-pointers, six 3-pointers and they were 11-of-19 from the free-throw line. 

Whiteoak’s leading scorer was Sawyer Blair with 12 points, making two 3-pointers and two two-point baskets. Jason Gaskins totaled 10 points for the Wildcats, as he sank three two-point baskets, a 3-pointer and went 1-of-3 in his free-throw attempts. 

WHS also had eight points from Brady Brandenburg (three two-pointers, 2-of-5 FT-line), seven points by Carson Hart (one 3-pointer, one two-pointer, 2-of-2 FT-line), four points scored by Christopher Wessner (two two-pointers) and four points from Lucas Pollard (one 3-pointer, 1-of-2 FT-line). 

Totals for Whiteoak were nine two-pointers, eight 3-pointers and they were 6-of-14 in their free-throw attempts. 

As for the game, in Whiteoak’s 12-point first frame it was Blair with two 3-pointers and a two-point basket. Also for WHS, Gaskins made two two-pointers. Fairfield in their 22-point first quarter had two 3-pointers by Smith, a basket from Rice, two buckets by McIntosh, and Friend sank four two-pointers and went 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. 

FHS scored 12 points in the second off three baskets from Friend, a 3-pointer by Rice, and McIntosh had a three-point quarter with a basket and made a free throw. Whiteoak in the second also had 12 points with Brandenburg scoring three points, while Hart scored five off a 3-pointer and two-point basket. The Wildcats also had a basket each from Wessner and Blair in the second quarter. 

In the third quarter, Whiteoak’s nine points came from four by Pollard with a 3-pointer, and he made a free throw. Brandenburg scored a two-point bucket and made a free throw. Also in the third, Hart was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. 

FHS in the third quarter had eight points scored by Smith off two 3-pointers and a two-point field goal, while teammate McIntosh made two two-pointers, and Friend was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line as the Lions scored 14 points in the frame. 

Fairfield’s 17-point fourth quarter included six points by Smith off a 3-pointer, a two-point basket and a free throw. Rice added four points in the frame with two baskets, Friend was again 2-of-2 from the free-throw line, and Burgess made a free throw. FHS also had four points from McIntosh off a basket and two free throws. 

Whiteoak’s 12-point fourth quarter consisted of two points off a basket by Blair and six points scored by Gaskins, as he sank a 3-pointer, a two-pointer and a free throw. Wessner connected with a basket, and teammate Brandenburg also scored two points with a made basket. 

The loss sends Whiteoak to a record of 2-6 in the SHAC Division II standings and 6-7 overall as WHS played the following afternoon and gained a 48-47 non-conference win over Georgetown.

Fairfield improves to 5-3 in the SHAC standings and 8-4 overall. 

WHS plays again Tuesday, Jan. 20 on the road at East Clinton in non-conference action. 

The Lions are scheduled to play next Tuesday, Jan. 20 on the road against the Fayetteville Rockets in a SHAC Division II battle. 

BOX SCORE
FHS     22 12 14 17 — 65
WHS    12 12 09 12 — 45