The Mexia Blackcats broke open a close game at the half and dominated the Fairfield Eagles 68-46 at the Johnson Activity Center Friday night.
Mexia began this game much like the game in Mexia a couple of weeks ago. Jaden Proctor hit a three from the corner and Prince Banks had a couple of steals and transition scores. Mexia took an early 9-0 lead and Fairfield called a timeout. The Eagles finished the period on a 9-2 run with a running jump shot from Tyler Smith, a pair from inside by Kobe Freeman, and a three pointer by Carl Daniels.
Trey Holdman and Jalen Busby went on a quick 7-0 run to begin the second period, but Fairfield remained close with seven straight points from Daniels. Smith hit the basket to tie the game at 20-20 and Kamren Griffin hit a three pointer from the deep corner to give the Eagles their first lead of the game. Freeman hit a three in the final seconds and the Eagles 28-27 when the buzzer sounded. Prince Banks was fouled, and he stepped to the line and hit a pair of free throw, to give the Blackcats the 29-28 halftime edge.
The first moments of the second half belonged to Banks. He scored 14 points in the third and earned three-point opportunities with the score and the foul. Fairfield would only score 11 in the period. Lamarion Miller was a force in the middle with the Eagle post players in foul trouble and Dawson Scott finished the period with the basket and foul, completed the 32-point third period for Mexia and extending the lead to 61-39.
The lead stayed the same through the final eight minutes and Mexia captured the 68-46 win.
Banks scored a game high 34 points.
Fairfield travels to Madisonville on Tuesday and Rusk on Friday. They trail the district leading Blackcats by two games with three games remaining.
(Photos by Melissa Lee)
