Cannon, Barnes propel Fairfield past Lady Wildcats
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
MOWRYSTOWN — For the second time this season, the Fairfield Lady Lions gained a win over Southern Hills Athletic Conference rival Whiteoak, this time winning by a 75-27 score.
The Thursday night win by Fairfield saw Samara Cannon and Brianna Barnes combine for 33 points, with Cannon totaling 17 points for the Lady Lions and Barnes scoring 16 points.
Fairfield head coach Chad Hamilton spoke about the game and the week the Lady Lions have had.
[[In-content Ad]]
“We’ve had a busy week, and this was the second time we’ve played Whiteoak in a week, so we knew what to expect today. We pressured the ball quite a bit, which I was happy with that. We had some girls who were playing really hard, and we had a chance to get out and run the floor,” Hamilton said. “We didn’t shoot the ball really well in the first half, but our defense played well.”
Whiteoak was led by Cylee Bratton with 14 points for her best total of the season.
Fairfield gained a 19-2 lead at the end of the first quarter by taking control of the game early with a 5-0 lead, followed by a 17-2 run to end the first frame. Fairfield’s scoring in the first consisted of six points from Cannon and six points from Barnes. Also in the first, Emma Fouch, Trinity Huff and Molly Thackston each scored two points, and Ella Newkirk scored a point off a free throw.
Whiteoak’s two points in the first came from Bratton.
The second frame saw improved play from the Lady Wildcats as they scored seven points in the frame, but Fairfield added 13 points to their side of the scoreboard for a halftime advantage of 32-9.
In the second frame, Kara Ward had a 3-pointer and a two-point basket for the Lady Wildcats, while Bratton scored two points as well. Ward ended the game with seven points.
Fairfield had five players net points in the quarter with Lauren Arnold sinking a 3-pointer, while Newkirk scored two two-point field goals in the same frame. Scoring two points apiece for FHS in the second were Cannon, Fouch and Barnes.
Not only did Arnold make a 3-pointer, but Coach Hamilton spoke highly of her defense on Thursday.
“Lauren played well defensively for us,” he said. “Also, Molly Thackston played really hard.”
Newkirk totaled eight points for the game, and also with eight points for the game were Fouch and Huff.
The Lady Lions had their best eight-minute quarter, with 25 points to their credit, in the third. Fairfield built their lead to 40-9.
In the third, Fairfield had seven points from Cannon (including her second 3-pointer of the game), along with four points each by Huff and Madison Bronner. Braylynn Haines and Barnes each scored three points in the third, while Fouch and Thackston each had two points in the quarter.
Bronner ended the game with six points for the Lady Lions. Thackston totaled four points in the win.
Whiteoak’s third quarter saw them have another seven-point frame with a 3-pointer sank by Hailey Monteith, while Kara Ward swished a two-point basket and Bratton made two free-throw baskets.
The Lady Wildcats had their top quarter in the fourth with 11 points as Bratton scored eight points, while Ariel Farahay made a two-point field goal and Monteith sank a free throw.
WHS head coach Steve Smith said his team played better than they did a week ago when they played the Lady Lions in Leesburg.
“Our girls played a lot better, and though this wasn’t the outcome we wanted, I told the girls in the locker room that the second half was the best half we played so far this year,” Smith said. “We got quality minutes from players off the bench.
“Emily Holladay is a senior who hasn’t played since sixth grade, and she came in and closed down the middle. She hustled down the floor. We got some shots and looks at the basket, but we still turned the ball over a little too much against the pressure and made some bad decisions. Even with that, this was the best game we played all year, and I think we are getting better.”
Fairfield scored 18 points in the fourth with Barnes scoring five points and Newkirk adding three points. Scoring two points each in the fourth were Cannon, Fouch, Huff, Bronner and Jaden Smith.
The Lady Lions had 26 two-point baskets, three 3-pointers and were 14-of-21 from the free-throw line for the game. WHS finished with seven two-point baskets, two 3-pointers and were 7-of-16 from the free-throw line.
For the game, WHS totaled 25 turnovers, and Fairfield had 18 turnovers.
“We have 12 games in 19 days to start the season, so we have to make sure we are on top of what we want to do and stay sharp,” Hamilton said. “We are certainly being tested, and hopefully this will give us a chance around Christmas to rest and get our legs back and finish the second half strong.”
Next for the Lady Lions is an away non-conference game Saturday, Dec. 8 at Paint Valley at 1:30 p.m.
Whiteoak will next play Saturday, Dec. 8 vs. Portsmouth Notre Dame at noon.
The Thursday night win by Fairfield saw Samara Cannon and Brianna Barnes combine for 33 points, with Cannon totaling 17 points for the Lady Lions and Barnes scoring 16 points.
Fairfield head coach Chad Hamilton spoke about the game and the week the Lady Lions have had.
[[In-content Ad]]
“We’ve had a busy week, and this was the second time we’ve played Whiteoak in a week, so we knew what to expect today. We pressured the ball quite a bit, which I was happy with that. We had some girls who were playing really hard, and we had a chance to get out and run the floor,” Hamilton said. “We didn’t shoot the ball really well in the first half, but our defense played well.”
Whiteoak was led by Cylee Bratton with 14 points for her best total of the season.
Fairfield gained a 19-2 lead at the end of the first quarter by taking control of the game early with a 5-0 lead, followed by a 17-2 run to end the first frame. Fairfield’s scoring in the first consisted of six points from Cannon and six points from Barnes. Also in the first, Emma Fouch, Trinity Huff and Molly Thackston each scored two points, and Ella Newkirk scored a point off a free throw.
Whiteoak’s two points in the first came from Bratton.
The second frame saw improved play from the Lady Wildcats as they scored seven points in the frame, but Fairfield added 13 points to their side of the scoreboard for a halftime advantage of 32-9.
In the second frame, Kara Ward had a 3-pointer and a two-point basket for the Lady Wildcats, while Bratton scored two points as well. Ward ended the game with seven points.
Fairfield had five players net points in the quarter with Lauren Arnold sinking a 3-pointer, while Newkirk scored two two-point field goals in the same frame. Scoring two points apiece for FHS in the second were Cannon, Fouch and Barnes.
Not only did Arnold make a 3-pointer, but Coach Hamilton spoke highly of her defense on Thursday.
“Lauren played well defensively for us,” he said. “Also, Molly Thackston played really hard.”
Newkirk totaled eight points for the game, and also with eight points for the game were Fouch and Huff.
The Lady Lions had their best eight-minute quarter, with 25 points to their credit, in the third. Fairfield built their lead to 40-9.
In the third, Fairfield had seven points from Cannon (including her second 3-pointer of the game), along with four points each by Huff and Madison Bronner. Braylynn Haines and Barnes each scored three points in the third, while Fouch and Thackston each had two points in the quarter.
Bronner ended the game with six points for the Lady Lions. Thackston totaled four points in the win.
Whiteoak’s third quarter saw them have another seven-point frame with a 3-pointer sank by Hailey Monteith, while Kara Ward swished a two-point basket and Bratton made two free-throw baskets.
The Lady Wildcats had their top quarter in the fourth with 11 points as Bratton scored eight points, while Ariel Farahay made a two-point field goal and Monteith sank a free throw.
WHS head coach Steve Smith said his team played better than they did a week ago when they played the Lady Lions in Leesburg.
“Our girls played a lot better, and though this wasn’t the outcome we wanted, I told the girls in the locker room that the second half was the best half we played so far this year,” Smith said. “We got quality minutes from players off the bench.
“Emily Holladay is a senior who hasn’t played since sixth grade, and she came in and closed down the middle. She hustled down the floor. We got some shots and looks at the basket, but we still turned the ball over a little too much against the pressure and made some bad decisions. Even with that, this was the best game we played all year, and I think we are getting better.”
Fairfield scored 18 points in the fourth with Barnes scoring five points and Newkirk adding three points. Scoring two points each in the fourth were Cannon, Fouch, Huff, Bronner and Jaden Smith.
The Lady Lions had 26 two-point baskets, three 3-pointers and were 14-of-21 from the free-throw line for the game. WHS finished with seven two-point baskets, two 3-pointers and were 7-of-16 from the free-throw line.
For the game, WHS totaled 25 turnovers, and Fairfield had 18 turnovers.
“We have 12 games in 19 days to start the season, so we have to make sure we are on top of what we want to do and stay sharp,” Hamilton said. “We are certainly being tested, and hopefully this will give us a chance around Christmas to rest and get our legs back and finish the second half strong.”
Next for the Lady Lions is an away non-conference game Saturday, Dec. 8 at Paint Valley at 1:30 p.m.
Whiteoak will next play Saturday, Dec. 8 vs. Portsmouth Notre Dame at noon.