Smith scores 19 consecutive Fairfield points as Lions win by 23 over Wilmington

HILLSBORO — At the inaugural New Year’s Hardwood Classic held Saturday at the Southern State Community College’s Patriot Center, Fairfield sophomore Brody Smith put on an impressive showing, including a second-half run of scoring 19 consecutive Fairfield points en route to a 53-30 win for the Lions.

Fairfield, wearing their white jerseys as the home team on the scoreboard, saw Smith’s scoring streak begin near the start of the third quarter with a 3-pointer that put the Lions’ lead to 11 points at 28-17. From there, he scored two points on a drive to the hoop. After a free throw by the ’Cane, Smith scored two points off a layup in the paint at the 4:48 mark of the third.

Wilmington (3-7) answered with a 3-pointer with 2:57 left in the third, only to see Smith end the third quarter with a long 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 35-21 Fairfield lead.

As the fourth frame started, Smith scored two points in the paint, and after the ’Cane had an equal feat, Smith drained a 3-pointer at the 5:13 mark of the fourth for a 40-23 lead. With 3:19 left in the final quarter, the sophomore Smith added two points off a basket. WHS answered with two made free throws, only to see Smith score his 19th consecutive point off a basket in the paint with the assist from Griffin Friend with 2:50 left in regulation.

Smith finished the game with 22 points, making five two-point baskets and four 3-pointers.

“Brody played with more aggression in the second half, with a little bit more fire,” FHS head coach Quentin Williams said. “He was more aggressive several times when he drove to the basket. He’d drive to go through somebody and score.”

WHS came back with two points, and the Lions answered with layup off a fast break by Quentin McIntosh, then he added another two points with a basket in the paint, leaving 1:47 left in the final quarter for a 48-27 lead.

The Lions (8-2) scored the final five points of the game from Logan McIntosh with a free throw, Caleb Rice with a basket, and Friend had a steal and layup for the final points of the game, giving the Lions a 26-point win as Fairfield won the fourth quarter, 18-9.

“Defensively for the most part, we did an overall good job holding them to 30 points,” Williams said. “Even if you don’t play as well offensively like we did tonight, our defense stepped up. I was also pleased with our overall attention to detail on our scouting report.

“We knew what we were supposed to do, and our guys were in the right spots and doing their jobs. It was a physical game, and the refs let us play, so we do have to learn how to play through contact more and be strong. We have to play off two feet, have a good base and accept the pressure.”

Fairfield won the first frame at 11-6 as Friend, Smith and Logan McIntosh each connected with a 3-pointer, while Quentin McIntosh scored two points with a basket.

In the second quarter, the Lions also scored 11 points, while Wilmington also added 11 points. The Lions’ 11 points in the second were scored by Friend with a 3-pointer, Caleb Barrera with six points off two baskets, and a two-point bucket by Logan McIntosh.

Final scoring totals for the Lions also included Logan McIntosh with nine points as he made two 3-pointers, one layup and he was 1-of-2 from the free-throw line. Friend ended the game with eight points, making two 3-pointers and a two-point basket.  Quentin McIntosh totaled six points in the win off three baskets. Barrera also finished with six points (three two-point baskets), while Rice had two points.

As a team, the Lions totaled eight 3-pointers, 14 two-point baskets and they were 1-of-4 from the free-throw line.  

Wilmington’s leading scorer was Jayceon Kibler with 11 points, making two 3-pointers, two two-point baskets and he was 1-of-2 from the free-throw line. Other final scoring totals for the ’Cane were Chase Fickert with six points, Malachi Cumberland totaled six points, Stevie Rickman with three points, Jared Tackett scored two points and Cameron Griffith scored two points.

Fairfield’s win improves them to an overall record of 8-2 overall. Wilmington moves to 3-7 overall.

The Lions are scheduled to face the Eastern Warriors at home on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in a Southern Hills Athletic Conference battle.

“We have a gauntlet coming up,” Williams said of the Lions’ schedule. “We have a really tough schedule this year, so we have to be ready every day. I talk to them a lot about having the right mentality to practice, and we are getting better at that. We have to make sure we have great attention to detail moving forward.”

BOX SCORE
WHS    06 11 04 09 — 30
FHS    11 11 13 18 — 53

FAIRFIELD (53) — G.Friend 1 (2) 0-0 8, C.Barrera 3 (0) 0-0 6, B.Smith 5 (4) 0-0 22, C.Rice 1 (0) 0-0 2, L.McIntosh 1 (2) 1-2 9, Q.McIntosh 3 (0) 0-2 6. TOTALS: 14 (8) 1-4 53.

WILMINGTON (30) — S.Rickman 0 (1) 0-0 3, C.Flickert 2 (0) 2-3 6, J.Tackett 1 (0) 0-0 2, M.Cumberland 3 (0) 0-0 6, C.Griffith 1 (0) 0-0 2, J.Kibler 2 (2) 1-2 11. TOTALS: 9 (3) 3-5 30.

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