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| EAGLES SENIOR POST player Eric Bradford chases a loose basketball in district action against the Mexia Blackcats. |
“In both games the kids played hard and played well. We just have not finished a game,” head coach Joey Worley says.
The Eagles started with week on the road at Madisonville, and fell behind early, trailing 16-21 the first period. But, the Fairfield quintet rallied with 24 points in the second period to take a 40-35 advantage into intermission.
Fairfield held a 58-53 lead through three periods and were out scored in a high scoring fourth period to wind up in an 81-all tie at the end of regulation play.
Worley reports that the Mustangs got ahead in the fourth period, the Eagles tied the game held the ball late to try and get the winning basket near the buzzer.
“We took a shot to win and it didn’t go in,” the coach reports.
Madisonville tried the same thing in overtime, but their shot found its mark for an 89-86 Fairfield loss.
“It was a pretty high paced game. The kids really battled and Madisonville is huge,” Worley says.
The Eagles presented a balanced scoring attack with five players in double digits, led by Eric Palmer’s 17 points.
Others scoring were: LaDarius Brackens, 15; Chris Jones, 14; Willie Tatum, 14; Andre Gilley, 11; Josh Lynch, 8; Tevin Green, 4; and Eric Bradford, 3.
Jones burned the nets with three treys, while Gilley and Palmer got a 3-pointer apiece.
The Eagles shot 74 percent from the free throw line, making 23 of 31 attempts.
Two members of the squad, Bradford and Gilley, fouled out in the fourth period.
At home against Mexia on Friday, the Eagles led the Blackcats 13-11 the first period and were out scored by four points in the second period to fall behind 22-24 at the half.
The Eagles tallied 15 points in the third to retake the lead 37-35 and held a lead through most of the fourth period until the Blackcats nailed a 3-pointer with a minute left to tie and took advantage of a Fairfield turnover to hand the Eagles a 58-62 loss.
From his post position, Bradford led scoring with 16 points and also took three charges.
Others scoring were: Tatum, 12; Jones, 10; Palmer, 8; Lynch, 8; and Gilley, 4.
The Eagles shot 71 percent from the free throw line, making 15 of 21 attempts.
Rebound leaders were Bradford and Lynch, nine each.
In junior varsity action, the Eagles battled the Mustangs to a tie through four periods and fell in overtime.
“Our guys played hard and fought tooth and nail with Madisonville in Madison county. At the end we just came up a little short,” coach Jody Walker says.
Fairfield jv cagers led the Mustangs 11-8 the first period, 18-14 at the half and 35-33 through three.
The Eagles were out scored 13-15 in the fourth period to finish regulation play tied 48-all, then were out scored by a couple of points in overtime to drop a 56-58 decision.
In double digits were Daniel Wilson, 15, and Tim Benson, 12.
Others scoring were: Jay Brown, 7; Evan Simpson, 6; Vernard Evans, 5; Chris Warren, 3; and Dustin Burgess, 2.
Clearing the boards for the Eagles were Benson, Simpson, Wilson and Evans.
Although they got off to a slow start, the Fairfield jv quintet rallied for a win Friday night against the Mexia Blackcats.
The Eagles led 8-7 the first period, but trailed 18-22 at the half before taking control 29-24 in the third period.
Fourth period action saw the Eagles out score the Blackcats 14-8 to win 43-32.
“Our guys had a hard time sinking a shot in the first half but were able to contain Mexia to three second half shots for a very impressive win,” Walker reports.
Leading scorer was Benson with 16 points. He was joined in double digits by Wilson, 13.
Also scoring were Warren, Simpson, Evans and Burgess.
Rebound leaders were Simpson, Benson and Wilson.
“These young Eagles held Mexia to two points in the third stanza with great defensive hustle,” Walker says.
Fairfield freshmen cagers fell seven points behind Madisonville the first period, which proved to be the margin in a 37-44 loss.
After trailing 9-16 the first period, the Eagles pulled within three at 19-22 by intermission and trailed 28-32 at the end of three, but were unable to close the gap in the final stanza.
Scoring 10 points each to lead the team were Darian Scott and Robert Durham.
Others scoring were: Cooper Vandiver, 8; Brodrick White, 3; Dillon Burgess, 2; Richard Cain, 2; and Jacob Cain, 2.
In the Mexia game, the Eagles took an 11-8 lead the first period and hit for 15 points in the second period for a 26-19 advantage at half-time.
Fairfield frosh added eight points in the third period and 12 in the fourth, giving up 12 and seven, to win 46-38.
Durham led scoring with 20 points.
Others scoring were: Scott, 7; White, 6; Burgess, 5; Jacob Cain, 5; Vandiver, 2; and Nick Munoz, 1.
The Eagles were scheduled to play at Groesbeck early this week to start the second round of district, head to Palestine Westwood on Friday and host Palestine on Tuesday.