District Final Preview 2024: Fairfield set for rematch against Federal Hocking 

LEESBURG — The Fairfield Lions return to a familiar spot on the tournament trail this upcoming Friday night, as they will play in a fifth consecutive Division IV SE District championship game, and this season is the year they want a different result than the previous four. 

Since the 2019-20 season, the Lions have reached the district final round of the tournament, and in those previous four trips they haven’t gained the elusive win. Their previous two losses were heartbreaking, as one of those losses was by one point (’22), and last season’s district final game was the only loss of the season for the Lions. 

This year is different, as that was the message from Fairfield head coach Quentin Williams following the Lions’ 62-33 win over the Manchester Greyhounds in the district semifinal game this past Saturday at the Ohio University Convocation Center. The Lions return to Athens at the Convo this Friday (March 8 at 8:15 p.m.) to face the Federal Hocking Lancers with the district championship at stake, a trophy the Lions haven’t lifted since 2014. 

“I think this is the year,” Williams said of the district title. “We've put in a lot of work. It's been a long time. They've worked their butts off for the last six years for me, and they deserve it.”

Taking a look at the Lancers, they are 18-6 overall with a 9-1 record in the Tri-Valley Conference, winners of their division in the conference for three consecutive seasons. The Lancers have a current winning streak of five games, and to get to the district final game, they defeated Waterford, 52-41 in the semifinal round of the district tournament. 

When Fairfield and Federal Hocking played each other on Dec. 30, 2023 at Alexander High School at a winter classic event, the Lions were the victors by a 60-47 score. A few seasons ago, the two schools faced each other in the district semifinals (2020-21 season), where FHS won by a 62-49 score. 

The two teams have a battle ahead of them where Federal Hocking’s success depends on their offense, where they are averaging 65.4 points per game, and the Lions’ advantage could be their defense, as they are allowing only 39.5 ppg in 24 games this season. 

The Lancers are allowing 57.1 ppg on defense, and the Fairfield offense is averaging 59 ppg in 24 games played. 

In another look at Federal Hocking, three of their standout players are senior Tariq Cottrill (5-8, guard), senior Andrew Airhart (6-0, forward/guard) and sophomore Cam Joy (6-1, forward/guard). In the All-TVC voting, Cottrill was the conference Player of the Year, while Airhart and Joy were also selected to the All-TVC team. 

That same trio was also selected to the District 13 coaches All-District team, where Cottrill was the District 13 POY, Airhart was first tea, and Joy was honorable mention. Federal Hocking head coach Jonathan Thompson was selected as the TVC co-Coach of the Year, the District 13 COY, and he earned his 100th win as a head coach in the district semifinals, as he’s been a head coach since 2018. 

As for Airhart, this season (Feb. 18) he set the Federal Hocking single-game scoring record with a 46-point game versus Trimble. Also this season, the senior Airhart earned his 1,000th career point. 

Federal Hocking are a defending district champion, winning the title in 2022-23. This tournament, the Lancers have defeated Glenwood New Boston (92-59) and Waterford (52-41). 

The Lions come into the game as the No. 2 seed — Federal Hocking is a No. 3 seed — having won their past four games, including tournament wins against Whiteoak (63-27) and the aforementioned Manchester win at 62-33. 

Fairfield’s history with the district final game has seen them win the championship on three different occasions (’78, ’96, ’14), and they go into this game with the momentum needed to take the next step with the aforementioned four-game winning streak.

Even though last season saw the magical run of 24 overall consecutive wins before their district final loss, the Lions went into this season and built a 39-game regular-season winning streak, but eventually that came to an end, and maybe, too, did the pressure that goes with that. 

Fairfield lost three times late in this season, but they overcame that adversity, as that has been shown thus far in the tournament with the Lions averaging 62.5 ppg in their two tournament games and allowing an average of 30 ppg in those same two games. The Lions’ district final opponent, Federal Hocking, are averaging 72 ppg and allowing 50 ppg in two games this tournament.

A big part of Fairfield’s success is the Lions have a core group of players who have battled in big moments, including having three players earning All-SHAC honors this season, and four players named to the District 14 All-District team as voted on by the coaches.

Larkin Friend, Trey House and Logan McIntosh all were All-SHAC selections, and those three, plus Gabe Fouch, were All-District 14 selections, with Friend named first team and McIntosh and House named third team, while Fouch was honorable mention. 

The Lions have also had players step up big in the tournament, including Fouch with defensive play, and Cade Miller with his play in the district semifinal game where he scored eight points, but his two 3-pointers helped the Lions get rolling in their 29-point win over the Greyhounds. 

Fairfield and Federal Hocking will play this Friday, March 8, with the tipoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m. in Athens at the Ohio University Convocation Center. 

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