The Fairfield Eagles won all three games in the 2025 Fairfield Invitational Basketball Tournament and earned the championship title over the weekend at the Johnson Activity Center on the campus of Fairfield High School.
The tournament only had four participants with appearances from the Athens Hornets, Palmer Bulldogs, and Waco Connally Cadets, but the games provided most of the close games over the three-day period.
The Eagles began the round robin style play with a contest against the Athens Hornets. Madden McElroy opened with an early three-pointer and Kavion Hicks hit a short jumper. Connor Colvert scored at the end of the first period to put the Eagles ahead 10-9. Davonte Alexander had a steal and score and then a pair of scores from Kohl Collins off of offensive rebounds. Collins scored on a pass from Ja’Kendrick Turner and then Turner scored twice for himself, and the Eagles led 23-15 at the half.
Athens hit three from long distance to open the second half and closed the gap and eventually take a slim 29-28 lead midway through the third period. Manny Brown matched with a three pointer and Jeremy Brackens had a tip-in off of a miss to regain the lead. A late three pointer by the Hornets sent the game to the fourth period with a 36-34 lead.
Fairfield hit six of eight from the free throw line in the fourth period and McElroy hit a three pointer that separated the score slightly in the final moments. Turner scored and McElroy drove inside and scored, and the Eagles held on at the charity stripe for the 53-49 win.
The Eagles moved to the Friday game that would see the Palmer Bulldogs come in for a tournament game.
The first period see-sawed back and forth with two scores each from Kavion Hicks and Madden McElroy. They were matched with a pair of three pointers from Eric Cisneros. McElroy went on a personal 5-0 run, and the Eagles took a 19-14 lead at the end of the first period.
Fairfield took off on a solid run to open the second period. Collins hit a three pointer and Brown also hit one. Palmer reached the foul limit early in the period and hit eight of twelve from the free throw line to take a 44-25 halftime lead.
Hicks scored six early in the third period to extend the lead. Alexander hit a three pointer and scored at the end of the period to add three points to the lead. Zaylan McMillian scored in the fourth period and McElroy added six points to finish with 16 points in the 73-54 win.
A win from Fairfield in the Saturday game would complete the sweep and Fairfield would earn the tournament title win.
The Eagles and Connally Cadets proved to be evenly matched on the day, and the game was close throughout. Hicks scored on a connection from McElroy and Collins hit a three pointer to take the early lead. Connally reached the penalty early and hit eight of ten free throws to keep the game close. The Eagles missed their final nine shots from the field in the period and Connally had a 14-7 lead at the end of the first period.
Collins scored in the first minute of the second period and later had a score off an offensive rebound to put the Eagles close to the lead. Traelin Randolph hit a three pointer and made three of their four free throws. Turner hit a three pointer and McElroy found Hicks for a score near the end of the period to draw to within 25-21 at the half.
Colvert hit a three on the first possession of the second half and Collins scored for a 5-0 run and a slim 26-25 Eagle lead. K.D. Linville scored as one of the only three scores in the third period, but the Cadets remained close at the free throw line. Alexander nailed a pair of free throws and Turner added a three pointer to keep the Eagles in the lead 44-38 heading into the final period.
The game was played in the gold gym with more limited seating, and the place was packed and the tension was evident.
Alexander and Turner opened the final period with scores and Linville remained active in the Cadet offense with two buckets early to match. Both teams entered the penalty early and free throws ruled the final period. Connally hit 27 of 33 free throws and Fairfield made 17 of 24.
Fairfield held on with timely free throw shooting to claim the 62-59 win and the tournament trophy.
(Photos by Natalia V. Marsters)
