The Fairfield Eagles split the first two games of their tournament and played a Saturday thriller. They will continue district play on Tuesday when they host the Groesbeck Goats.
The Fairfield Eagles got 14 points from Madden McElroy in an opening game loss to the Bullard Panthers. The 67-56 loss in pool play put the Eagles chasing the leaders heading into a close loss to the Athens Hornets. Fairfield had balanced scoring in the game but came up short in the end of the 71-70 score at the end of the tournament’s first day.
The Eagles’ first game of day two was a double-digit win over the Maypearl Panthers. Zachary scored ten points in the paint and Collins added nine as the inside presence was too much for the Maypearl perimeter game. Fairfield held a three-point halftime lead and stretched it out to a 63-51 win.
They faced the Fort Worth Brewer Bears in the nightcap of day two. They did not score a first period score from the field but hit seven of eight free throws. McElroy hit a pair of threes and Collins scored inside and the Eagles built a 24-21 halftime lead. Fairfield hit free throws down the stretch and held off the Bears to complete the win and finish third in pool play, where they would face the Waco Connally Cadets.
McElroy scored 29 points on the Saturday matchup and Randolph added five threes for the Cadets. The final minutes showed the lead change back and forth and the Eagles took the lead on a Keyshawn Turner score. With only a few seconds remaining Randolph drove a scooped a shot in for the game winner at the buzzer for the 70-69 win.
(Photos by Natalia V. Marsters)
