Fairfield Lions end season as regional runners-up; fall to Malvern Hornets in Elite 8

COLUMBUS — The statement of “it takes a village” never rang so true as it did Sunday afternoon at the Division VII Regional Finals, where the Fairfield Lions faced the Malvern Hornets in a game that was delayed one day, moved and eventually played at Westerville South High School. 

The Lions had their entire side of the stands filled to capacity with community support, allowing them to showcase their skills in a high-level game in front of their biggest supporters. 

As time ticked away in the fourth frame, the Lions were unable to keep hold of a 10-point lead following a strong surge of scoring by the Hornets, as the Lions came up just short by three points, seeing the end of their season arrive and falling by a 57-54 score.

Fairfield ends their season at 19-7 overall, finishing the season as SE District 2 champions. This was also the first time the Lions have played in a regional final game since 1978, being only the second Fairfield boys basketball team to play in a regional final game. 

The Lions held a two-point lead going into the fourth frame at 43-41. In the early stages of the fourth, the Lions led 46-43 following a 3-pointer by junior Caleb Rice, and next was a fastbreak layup by Rice as he ended the game with a team-high 17 points, totaling four two-point baskets and three 3-pointers. 

After two timeouts were called, Rice scored his eighth consecutive point with another 3-pointer at the 5:39 mark and got a 10-point Lions lead at 53-43 after two free throws from junior Griffin Friend following a technical foul. Friend ended the game with 16 points, collecting three two-point baskets and going 10-of-14 from the free-throw line. 

As for Rice, Coach Friend said he was a “season changer,” as the Lions began the year at 1-3 in their first four games.

“He changed the season for us,” Coach Friend said. “He completely manipulated the season because opponents took away Brody and Griffin, and being able to make the shots that he does opens up the floor and allows us to do what we want to do on offense. 

“You've got to respect a kid like that, and you can’t just leave him open. He’s come so far. He was never one of our best 3-point shooters, and in the last year or so he’s really developed into that and put in a lot of hard work for that.”

Following the technical foul, the Hornets outscored Fairfield 14-1 in the final 4:45 of regulation. 

Malvern began their comeback with five consecutive points of their own and, after a free throw made by Friend for a 54-48 Fairfield lead with 3:47 left in regulation, it was time for the Hornets to sting the Lions, going on a 9-0 run to end the game and winning by three points over Fairfield. 

“The crowd was into it, and I don’t know … maybe that technical foul gave (Malvern) some energy. I don’t know,” Fairfield interim head coach Raymond Friend said. “I don’t have an answer. It just seemed like after that point, our baskets didn’t go in. They were right there at the rim, and that’s part of the game.

“Some of their shots went off the top of the backboard and seemed like they went in. It’s sometimes not your day. I’m proud of the kids, they battled. They went through a lot this year.”

Coach Friend continued to talk about the game.

“This is tough,” he said. “Malvern is a well-coached team, You can look back at the last five minutes and like what? It will be a hard one to watch.”

The regional final game — which had a 1 p.m. start  — was originally scheduled to be played at Ohio Dominican University on Saturday evening at 5 p.m., then 7 p.m., but due to power outages at the college and surrounding area, the game time and location was switched to Westerville South High School on Sunday. 

The one-day wait for the regional final game didn’t dampen emotions for either side, as the jam-packed gymnasium saw the Lions lead 13-11 after the first quarter. 

Fairfield even scored the first points of the game, a putback basket by senior Quentin McIntosh, who finished the game with a double-double by scoring 10 points and collecting 15-plus rebounds for the Lions. 

The Hornets and Lions later battled to a 2-2, 4-4 and 6-6 tied score, and the third tied score was broken with a free throw made by junior Brody Smith for a 7-6 lead. 

McIntosh increased the Fairfield lead to three points with two made free throws, and Rice pushed the Lions ahead by five points with a layup as he was assisted by Friend for an 11-6 lead with 2:39 left in the first quarter. 

Malvern came back with a 3-pointer by senior Cameron Good, but it was Smith — who finished with eight points — answering with a strong out back basket in the paint. Malvern junior Delonte Simmons ended the first with a layup with .52 on the clock, leaving the Lions in the lead by a 13-11 score. 

The Hornets scored the first three points of the second for a 14-13 advantage, but McIntosh scored two points with a one-handed shot for a 15-14 Lions advantage. 

After MHS regained the lead, Fairfield tied the score at 16 with a free throw by Friend, and again it was the Hornets stinging the Lions with back-to-back 3-pointers by senior Josh Untch and sophomore Brennan Mitchell for a four-point FHS deficit at 22-18 with 3:14 until halftime arrived. 

The Lions didn’t lead for the remainder of the first half as they trailed by five points when the quarter ended due to a 3-pointer from junior Grady Barkley at the buzzer, lifting Malvern to a 30-25 halftime lead. The second frame also saw Fairfield junior Joel Matthews make a free throw and a two-point basket, finishing the game with three points. 

Fairfield trailed by seven points twice in the early stages of the third frame, but then came their big run of points, going on a 9-0 run of their own.

The run started with a basket off the glass from McIntosh, then it was two free throws from Friend, and later came a 3-pointer by Smith, tying the score at 34. The run ended with a put back basket from McIntosh for a 36-34 Lions lead with 4:22 left in the third.

After Malvern tied the score at 36 with 3:56 left in the quarter. Rice sank a jumper to regain the lead for FHS. That lead was short-lived with Malvern senior Tripp Tucci sinking a 3-pointer for a one-point lead at 39-38. 

FHS took the lead back with a rebound by Friend, who took the ball the length of the court for two points with 2:20 left in the third. After the Hornets regained the lead once again, Fairfield led by two points at 43-41 with a 3-pointer from Rice with 25 seconds left in the quarter. 

“Again, the crowd was amazing today, and for me, I get my strength from the kids,” Coach Friend said. “They are such a resilient bunch, and to lose like this, this is going to be a tough one for them to swallow, but each and every one of them is going to be better because of it. You've got to keep your head up and give credit to Malvern.”

Fairfield this postseason tournament defeated Federal Hocking (78-51), South Gallia (55-19), South Webster (60-51) and Shekinah Christian (54-41). 

The season for the Lions was full of ups and downs with many changes for the program on and off the court, but the team overcame all adversity that was sent their way to become regional runners-up. 

“We started 1-3, and you know what, these kids bought in and they listen to coaching, and they are excited to come to practice every day,” Coach Friend said. “They want to compete. You see guys like Quentin and Caleb flourish and the offense came alive, then they put it together as a team.

“We got on a hot streak, and then we go down like we did, it is tough, but that’s part of it.”

Seniors for the Lions are Quentin McIntosh and Zach Ahsaruk. 

“I couldn’t be more proud of the seniors. Quentin McIntosh and Zach Ahsaruk. When those guys were in the fifth, sixth, seventh grades, they barely saw the floor, and now, they worked their way to be a big part of this team (both were starters),” Coach Friend said. “It is something special for them, and they have put a lot of work and effort into it. They will be missed.”

Coach Friend also spoke about the returning players for next season.

“They will take examples from our seniors this year, and take how much hard work they put in, and how much fun they saw them have at the end of this year,” Friend said. “I think they are going to be really excited for next year.”

Friend ended by talking about what it has been like taking over as the interim head coach with five games remaining in the regular season and through the tournament run. 

“That’s a tough one, I never asked for that,” he said. “We are just trying to do our best, and I’m just trying to do the best I can and just trying to be prepared. It’s not something that I plan on doing in the future, that’s all I can say there. 

“It was not on my bingo card in life. This group of kids made me a better person, so that was a lot of fun.”

BOX SCORE
FHS    13 12 18 11 — 54
MHS    11 19 11 16 — 57

MALVERN (57) — L.Thomas 0 (0) 1-2 1, D.Simmons 8 (0) 3-5 19, J.Untch 0 (2) 0-0 6, G.Barkley 3 (0) 0-0 6, T.Tucci 0 (2) 0-0 6, C.Good 1 (0) 0-2 2, J.Jones 3 (1) 2-2 11, V.Arsie 1 (0) 0-1 2, B.Mitchell 0 (1) 0-0 3. TOTALS: 16 (5) 6-12 57. 

FAIRFIELD (54) — B.Smith 1 (1) 3-5 8, C.Rice 4 (3) 0-2 17, G.Friend 3 (0) 10-14 16, J.Matthews 1 (0) 1-2 3, Q.McIntosh 4 (0) 2-4 10. TOTALS: 13 (4) 16-27 54.