Highland County commissioners recognize Fairfield Lions boys basketball team
Highland County commissioners issued a proclamation honoring the Fairfield Lions boys basketball team during the Wednesday, March 22 commission meeting. Pictured (l-r) are commissioner David Daniels; FHS players Larkin Friend, Logan McIntosh, Janre Lerio and Cade Miller; commissioner Brad Roades; FHS players Gunner Bennington, Wyatt Collins, TJ Mootz and Gabe Fouch, team manager Jaylen Daulton and players Chase Newman, Dane Hodson and Trey House; commission clerk Ashleigh Willey; FHS head coach Quentin Williams; and commissioner Terry Britton. (HCP Photo/Caitlin Forsha)
Highland County commissioners Terry Britton, David Daniels and Brad Roades issued a proclamation honoring the Fairfield Lions boys basketball team during the Wednesday, March 22 commission meeting.
Accepting the proclamation were head coach Quentin Williams, team manager Jaylen Daulton and members of the Lions team, including Gunner Bennington, Wyatt Collins, Gabe Fouch, Larkin Friend, Dane Hodson, Trey House, Janre Lerio, Logan McIntosh, Cade Miller, TJ Mootz and Chase Newman.
“We just want to congratulate you guys for the season that you've had,” Britton said. “You've set the bar very high for Leesburg Fairfield.
“You've done something that no other team has done in Leesburg.”
The proclamation included recognizing the team for their perfect 22-0 regular-season finish, the first in school history; their perfect 13-0 Southern Hills Athletic Conference record and first SHAC gold ball in 47 years; sectional championship; and district runner-up finish.
The Lions ended their season with a 24-1 overall record.
Individual accomplishments included: two All-SHAC players (Friend and Mootz); SHAC Coach of the Year (Williams); two Coaches All-District players (Mootz, first team, and Collins, honorable mention); three Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association All-District players (Mootz, first team, and Collins and Friend, both third team); OPSWA Southeast District Coach of the Year (Williams); and one Division IV All-Ohio player (Mootz, special mention).
“I’m proud of them, obviously, for sticking together and fighting through adversity like we did,” Williams said. “I probably could never have done it at their age. It shows a lot of resiliency and a lot of togetherness, and like I always say, they’ve got a lot of love for each other.
“They went out on top, and they did it the right way, and I'm proud of them. I thank you guys for recognizing them, because they do deserve that.”
Britton said that “the whole county was following” the team’s success this season. Williams agreed and thanked the community.
“Especially toward the end, I feel like probably around that 16-0 mark, we really started getting support from not only just Highland County, but everywhere, to kind of push us through,” Williams said.
Commissioners also congratulated the three seniors, Bennington, Collins and Mootz.
“You guys are going on a really great high,” Britton said.
After speaking with the team representatives, Britton read the proclamation.
“We, the Board of Commissioners of Highland County, do congratulate team coach Quentin Williams and the 2022-23 Fairfield Lions for their great season and wish them continued success in the future,” the proclamation says.
Britton added that although commissioners sign everything in blue ink, for Fairfield, “we did something special:” they signed the proclamation in red, in honor of the Lions’ school colors.