‘We never stopped believing:’ Lions win 4th district title in program history
ATHENS — The Fairfield Lions didn’t stop believing in their Division IV SE District Final game against the Federal Hocking Lancers, so when the final buzzer sounded at the Ohio University Convocation Center, they were hoisting a district championship trophy for the first time in a decade.
Going into the fourth quarter tied at 42 points apiece, the No. 2 seeded Lions (22-3) did what they did best, and that was use defense to be the difference maker. The play that was just one of many — but maybe the biggest play of all — was a two-handed block by senior Larkin Friend with 49 seconds left in regulation while the Lions held a one-point lead.
That play stopped a scoring opportunity by No. 3 seeded Federal Hocking (18-7), gave the Lions back the basketball, and after success from the free-throw line on multiple occasions, the Lions eventually defeated the Lancers, 56-52 March 8 to win their fourth district championship in program history, and their first since 2014 (exactly 10 years ago, on March 8, 2014).
Having their season hanging in the balance, the fourth quarter for Fairfield could be one of the most important quarters not just for the season, but in program history, as it was the difference of the team seeing the season continuing and being sweet as the Lions moved to the “Sweet 16” with the win.
“I felt like we deserved it, but obviously you’ve got to show up and you’ve got to take it, and that was our main message,” Fairfield head coach Quentin Williams said. “You can either let things happen, or you can just go take it. That was kind of the summary of the whole game.
“[Federal Hocking was] up a majority of the game, and we just never stopped believing. I felt like we had more willpower, made a little bit of adjustments down the stretch, and our kids just really wanted it.”
Fairfield senior Cade Miller also spoke about the Lions’ never-give-up attitude.
“The biggest thing is I just never stopped believing,” Miller said after the game. “I had to pull my guys aside sometimes to tell them. I mean, we were down pretty much the whole game. I had to keep telling them, you know, keep your head up. Let's go. Let's get this win. It's not over till it's over.”
Fairfield’s Logan McIntosh broke the tied score with a converted free throw with 7:36 on the clock to put the Lions ahead by a 43-42 score. Federal Hocking regained the lead with a basket, but Friend was there with two points on a fast break, with 5:45 left in regulation for a 45-44 Lions lead.
The Lancers answered with a 3-pointer and ensuing free throw by Tariq Cottrill for a three-point lead for Federal Hocking, and 12 seconds later, the Lancers made two more free throws for a five-point lead with 5:20 left in the game.
Fairfield called a timeout with 5:18, and after returning to the court cut the Lancers’ lead to three points with a basket by McIntosh, only to see their deficit go back to five points after two free throws by Evan McPherson of the Lancers with 3:03 left on the clock at the Convo.
But going back to the Lions’ motto … they didn’t stop believing, and that’s when the magic happened for the Lions.
The comeback began with under 3:00 left in regulation with Griffin Friend sinking two free throws, and after the Lions forced a turnover, it was Larkin Friend spinning in the lane and sinking a basket with 2:03 on the clock for a one-point deficit for Fairfield.
Larkin Friend then grabbed a rebound, a timeout was called by the Lions with 1:32 left in the game, and again it was Friend scoring two points while being fouled on a put-back basket with 1:19 remaining in the game.
For the success Larkin Friend was having on offense, it was his next play that maybe was the biggest difference maker of all. The Lancers were driving to the hoop to take the lead, but Friend leapt in the air, used both hands and rejected the ball and any ideas of the Lancers taking the lead, as the Lions regained possession of the ball.
“I just like to create opportunities for my teammates and hustle for every rebound I can,” Friend said after the game. “I just wanted to be aggressive tonight because for a district championship, you know, you’ve got to step up, you’ve got to be aggressive, you’ve got to to go and take it. You can't just sit back and pass the ball every time.
“I think we were up by two. We were really honing in on No. 2 and No. 3 because they were the best players, best scorers. When he got that ball, I was like, ‘I’m going to go up and try to block it, because I don't think that he's going to make any special moves or anything.’ I'm happy that I was able to.”
Williams also spoke about Friend’s leadership.
“I’ve been so hard on him,” Williams said. “There's no kid I've been harder on than Larkin Friend. Everybody knows that, that's watched me coach. He's accepted every bit of it, but it's for moments like this, because I've seen his potential and I knew what he's capable of. He's such a special kid. I'm so proud of him for leading this group.”
Following a timeout, Fairfield was fouled, and with 37.9 on the clock Larkin Friend returned to the foul line and sank both shots, putting the Lions ahead by three points. After another defensive stop by FHS, Gabe Fouch went to the free-throw line and put the Lions ahead by 56-52 score.
The defense of the Lions continued to cause issues for the Lancers, because five seconds after a timeout, the Lions forced a turnover. After the Lancers regained possession of the ball, it was Trey House’s defense that kept the Lancers from scoring, with Fairfield taking back the basketball and gaining the win.
The Lions were led in scoring by senior Larkin Friend, who had a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds. He also had seven assists to lead FHS.
Also in double digits for Fairfield was junior Logan McIntosh, who had 16 points and eight rebounds.
Rounding out the scoring for FHS were Gabe Fouch with six points; Griffin Friend with five points; Cade Miller with five points; and Trey House with two points.
The opening three frames of basketball between the two teams saw no quarter end with a team leading by no more than four points, with the Lancers holding a 14-10 lead after the first quarter, and they held a three-point lead at halftime at 26-23 over the Lions.
Cade Miller was first to score in the game, giving the Lions a 2-0 lead, and after the score was tied, it was Fouch putting the Lions back in front with a basket at the 6:40 mark for a 4-2 advantage. Eventually the Lions led by four points following points in the paint by McIntosh, but the Lancers from the 4:09 mark until the quarter ended outscored Fairfield 12-4, for a 14-10 lead.
The Lions trailed by as many as nine points in the second frame on two occasions, eventually cutting the deficit to three points when halftime arrived, using a 6-2 run in the final 2:13 of the quarter for the 26-23 halftime score.
In the final 2:13, all six points were scored by Larkin Friend with a put-back basket, one free throw and a 3-pointer with .23 left in the quarter.
The Lions outscored the Lancers 19-16 in the third, and a big part of the score being tied when the frame ended was the final 3:00 of the frame saw the Lions battle from being down nine points, to taking a three-point lead, to the Lancers making a 3-pointer late in the frame for the 42-42 score.
That run of scoring by the two SE District powerhouses started with a 3-pointer by Federal Hocking’s Andrew Airhart, followed by the Lions having a bucket from Larkin Friend, a three-point play by Fouch, a jumper from McIntosh, two points by House and a 3-pointer from Griffin Friend, with the 12-0 run from 3:00 to .47 left in the quarter putting the Lions ahead by three points at 40-37.
After a basket by the Lancers, a one-handed basket by McIntosh put FHS ahead by three points, but a 3-pointer near the end of the frame by McPherson left the score tied at 42.
Federal Hocking was led by Airhart and Tariq Cottrill with 19 points apiece.
Williams, Miller and Friend spoke about what winning the Lions’ first district title in a decade means to the group, as the seniors have been playing under Williams as their coach for six years.
“We've been together for six years, including our coach, and we love him,” Miller said. “We just put our trust into him, and he helps us win these games. It's awesome.
“I’ve lost plenty of district championships in my career, you know, in baseball and basketball. This one just means so much because I won it with my guys. It’s the first one, and it just feels amazing.”
Friend called it “the happiest moment” of his life.
“Getting a gold ball last year and going undefeated, that was a lot of fun, but tonight, winning a district championship is definitely the happiest moment in my entire life,” Friend said. “We've worked so hard as a team for this. I'm just so proud of everyone that that stepped up.
“[My teammates] mean everything to me. I mean, going back, not even the last six years, going back since we were in third grade. We've grown, we've learned, we've been tested together. This isn't the end, but this is a great way for our senior season to go.
“I think this is the ultimate dream, coming in here, winning a district championship with this team, who I love, and winning it for this community who's given so much to me,” Friend continued.
Williams echoed his comments from the Lions’ district semifinal win: his team “deserves” the district title.
“I wish I could sum it up in words, but I really can’t,” Williams said. “Over the last six years, I've spent more time with these kids than I have anybody in my life. We’ve spent so much time together on and off the basketball floor. I'm not old enough to be their dad, so I’m kind of like their older brother. I just love them to death. They literally mean the world to me, and that's what shows when you're out here and you're down the whole entire game. We are not going to give up on each other. It's something special to be a part of.
“Great kids, great parents, great community. I'm just super proud of them because like I said, we've busted our butts to get to this point. We've worked so hard, and they've done things the right way. My kids deserve it.”
The Lions advance to the regional semifinals Tuesday, March 12 at 8 p.m. at the Ohio University Convocation Center. They will face South Webster (22-3), who defeated Trimble, 51-34 Friday evening, winning their first district title since 2013.
BOX SCORE
FHHS 14 12 16 10 — 52
FHS 10 13 19 14 — 56
FAIRFIELD (56) — L.Friend 9 (0) 4-5 22, T.House 1 (0) 0-0 2, L.McIntosh 6 (1) 1-2 16, G.Fouch 2 (0) 2-4 6, G.Friend 0 (1) 2-2 5, C.Miller 1 (1) 0-0 5. TOTALS: 19 (3) 9-13 56.
FEDERAL HOCKING (52) — T.Cottrill 3 (4) 1-1 19, E.McPherson 2 (1) 0-0 9, T.Cameron 1 (0) 0-2 2, M.Cottrill 0 (1) 0-0 3, A.Airhart 3 (3) 4-4 19. TOTALS: 9 (9) 5-7 52.
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