Lions fall to Jeeps in sectional final
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LUCASVILLE — Unable to contain and counter against the South Webster Jeeps, the Fairfield Lions became the final Highland County boys team to bow out of postseason play as they were defeated 50-43 Tuesday night at Valley High School in their Division IV SE District Sectional Final.
"We had the right kids taking shots, but every time we would clip their lead, they would make a play," Fairfield head coach Matt Carson said. "We just had shots not going in, missed too many free throws and we just can't have 13 turnovers."
The one plus for the Lions was junior Chris Cox, who became only the second boys player in school history to score 1,000 career points as he made the opening bucket in the third quarter to achieve the feat.
"The 1,000 points comes from all of Chris' hard work in the summer," Carson said. "He is going to get even better."
Cox finished with the game-high in scoring with as he netted 20 points.
The Lions (12-10) went back-and-forth with the Jeeps in the opening frame, but it was the Jeeps who struck first with a 3-ball 34 seconds in as Austin Loop put the Jeeps out front early on.
Cox answered with seven straight points, three coming via an retro three-point play to put the Lions up by four points with 5:15 left in the opening frame.
SWHS (17-3) replied with a 3-pointer from Wes Loop at the 4:32 mark, but FHS senior Alex Henson put the Lions up two with a converted free throw.
After Cox and Henson each scored for FHS as the scoreboard eventually read 12-8 in favor of the Lions, the Jeeps ran away with the lead with a 6-0 run for a 13-12 advantage with 51 seconds left in the first. Henson put FHS up 15-13 with a 3-pointer leaving just 2.1 remaining in the first. Henson finished with 12 points.
In the second quarter Cox netted Fairfield's first five points, but in the process, the Jeeps scored seven points to tie the game at 20 with 4:19 left in the first half.
Cody Ferrell, who had a big block in the first frame, scored a three-point play the hard way as he made a layup while being fouled and followed with the ensuing free throw to give the Lions a three point advantage.
Austin Loop tied the game at 23 with a 3-pointer, and David Sutton put the Jeeps back in front with put back points with 1:41 left in the first half for the final points of the opening 16 minutes.
After Cox netted his 1,000th point with the aforementioned layup to start the third quarter, Austin Loop put the Jeeps ahead, once again, breaking the 25-25 tie with inside points.
Fairfield senior Josh Honeycutt clipped the SWHS lead to one point with a free throw, and later in the third Sowders sank two shots from the free-throw line with the Jeeps still holding a two-point advantage with just over 4:00 left in the quarter.
In the final quarter, the Lions were outscored 15-13, but FHS couldn't quite catch the Jeeps during the final eight minutes as South Webster led for the entire quarter.
FHS had a run of six straight in the final frame with Honeycutt, Cox and Henson all contributing to the scoring drive, cutting the Jeeps' advantage to one possession at 41-38.
The Jeeps gained a seven point lead late with Trevor Queen netting a free shot with 41.8 left in regulation.
Sowders scored the Lions' final points of the season with a wide-open 3-pointer with 17 seconds left in their season.
FHS wraps up the season at 12-10 overall.
"We made their other players besides (Wes) Loop beat us, so you have to tip your hat to them (SWHS)," Carson said.
Playing their final game for the Lions were: Michael Carson, Honeycutt, Sowders and Henson.
"Michael is a great kid," Matt Carson said. "He didn't play much, but it takes a big person to support his teammates like he did. He has my and his teammates' respect for being our biggest supporter.
"Josh did his job if he played two or 20 minutes. I am proud of him as he made a big life decision to join the Marines once he graduates, and I know he will be successful."
The third-year head coach also spoke about his two other seniors.
"Nick (Sowders) is scrappy and got up on defense. I feel as the season went along, he got better," Carson said. "Alex plays with a lot of heart. He gets it on and off the court. I respect all four seniors and wish them the best. They will be forever a member of the Fairfield basketball family."
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
FHS - 15 8 7 13 - 43
SWHS - 13 12 10 15 - 50
INDIVIDUAL STATS
SWHS (50)
Scott 2 2-3 6, A.Loop 3 (2) 1-2 13, Queen 6 2-3 14, Malone 3 2-3 8, Sutton 1 2, W.Loop 0 (2) 1-2 7. TOTALS: 15 (4) 8-13 50.
FHS (43)
Sowders 0 (1) 2-2 5, Ferrell 1 1-1 3, Henson 3 (1) 3-8 12, Cox 8 4-7 20, Honeycutt 1 1-4 3. TOTALS: 13 (2) 11-22 43.
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"We had the right kids taking shots, but every time we would clip their lead, they would make a play," Fairfield head coach Matt Carson said. "We just had shots not going in, missed too many free throws and we just can't have 13 turnovers."
The one plus for the Lions was junior Chris Cox, who became only the second boys player in school history to score 1,000 career points as he made the opening bucket in the third quarter to achieve the feat.
"The 1,000 points comes from all of Chris' hard work in the summer," Carson said. "He is going to get even better."
Cox finished with the game-high in scoring with as he netted 20 points.
The Lions (12-10) went back-and-forth with the Jeeps in the opening frame, but it was the Jeeps who struck first with a 3-ball 34 seconds in as Austin Loop put the Jeeps out front early on.
Cox answered with seven straight points, three coming via an retro three-point play to put the Lions up by four points with 5:15 left in the opening frame.
SWHS (17-3) replied with a 3-pointer from Wes Loop at the 4:32 mark, but FHS senior Alex Henson put the Lions up two with a converted free throw.
After Cox and Henson each scored for FHS as the scoreboard eventually read 12-8 in favor of the Lions, the Jeeps ran away with the lead with a 6-0 run for a 13-12 advantage with 51 seconds left in the first. Henson put FHS up 15-13 with a 3-pointer leaving just 2.1 remaining in the first. Henson finished with 12 points.
In the second quarter Cox netted Fairfield's first five points, but in the process, the Jeeps scored seven points to tie the game at 20 with 4:19 left in the first half.
Cody Ferrell, who had a big block in the first frame, scored a three-point play the hard way as he made a layup while being fouled and followed with the ensuing free throw to give the Lions a three point advantage.
Austin Loop tied the game at 23 with a 3-pointer, and David Sutton put the Jeeps back in front with put back points with 1:41 left in the first half for the final points of the opening 16 minutes.
After Cox netted his 1,000th point with the aforementioned layup to start the third quarter, Austin Loop put the Jeeps ahead, once again, breaking the 25-25 tie with inside points.
Fairfield senior Josh Honeycutt clipped the SWHS lead to one point with a free throw, and later in the third Sowders sank two shots from the free-throw line with the Jeeps still holding a two-point advantage with just over 4:00 left in the quarter.
In the final quarter, the Lions were outscored 15-13, but FHS couldn't quite catch the Jeeps during the final eight minutes as South Webster led for the entire quarter.
FHS had a run of six straight in the final frame with Honeycutt, Cox and Henson all contributing to the scoring drive, cutting the Jeeps' advantage to one possession at 41-38.
The Jeeps gained a seven point lead late with Trevor Queen netting a free shot with 41.8 left in regulation.
Sowders scored the Lions' final points of the season with a wide-open 3-pointer with 17 seconds left in their season.
FHS wraps up the season at 12-10 overall.
"We made their other players besides (Wes) Loop beat us, so you have to tip your hat to them (SWHS)," Carson said.
Playing their final game for the Lions were: Michael Carson, Honeycutt, Sowders and Henson.
"Michael is a great kid," Matt Carson said. "He didn't play much, but it takes a big person to support his teammates like he did. He has my and his teammates' respect for being our biggest supporter.
"Josh did his job if he played two or 20 minutes. I am proud of him as he made a big life decision to join the Marines once he graduates, and I know he will be successful."
The third-year head coach also spoke about his two other seniors.
"Nick (Sowders) is scrappy and got up on defense. I feel as the season went along, he got better," Carson said. "Alex plays with a lot of heart. He gets it on and off the court. I respect all four seniors and wish them the best. They will be forever a member of the Fairfield basketball family."
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY QUARTERS
FHS - 15 8 7 13 - 43
SWHS - 13 12 10 15 - 50
INDIVIDUAL STATS
SWHS (50)
Scott 2 2-3 6, A.Loop 3 (2) 1-2 13, Queen 6 2-3 14, Malone 3 2-3 8, Sutton 1 2, W.Loop 0 (2) 1-2 7. TOTALS: 15 (4) 8-13 50.
FHS (43)
Sowders 0 (1) 2-2 5, Ferrell 1 1-1 3, Henson 3 (1) 3-8 12, Cox 8 4-7 20, Honeycutt 1 1-4 3. TOTALS: 13 (2) 11-22 43.
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