The Fairfield Eagles swept the games of the week and moved one step closer to clinching a playoff spot. A huge home win against Mexia and a convincing win over Elkhart sets the Eagles in solid shape to move on.
The Johnson Activity Center was the site for the Tuesday game against the Mexia Blackcats. In the first meeting, Mexia built a big lead and could not hold off the Eagles raging comeback to send the game into overtime, where the Blackcats edged Fairfield 81-79 behind 58 points from senior guard Kel Collins.
The teams worked through the first quarter with scores from Madden McElroy, Connor Colvert and effective rebounding and scores from Kohl Collins. The Eagle defense doubled Kel Collins, and he ended the quarter scoreless and the Eagles held a 14-9 first quarter advantage.
Collins heated up in the second period with seven quick points, but the Eagles Kohl Collins continued to hit the offensive glass and put back missed shots and scored in double figures in the first half. Mexia had Rylon Greer, Keithen Davis and Kedraylin Hudson get into foul trouble and sat most of the second period and the Blackcats and Eagles matched scores and Fairfield led 31-26 at the halftime break.
Mexia cut into the lead in the third period and closed the gap in the early moments, but Fairfield weathered the storm and only lost one point on the lead. The Blackcats continued to play through foul trouble and Kel Collins had over half of the Blackcat total through three periods. Kohl Collins took a pass whipped through the air from Donte Alexander and he scored and was fouled at the end of the period and the Mexia trailed 54-40.
The Eagles maintained a lead throughout the fourth period and Ja’Kendrick Turner scored on consecutive possessions and the lead was seven, however, Kel Collins answered both times with scores for the Blackcats to force the lead down to less than five. Colvert hit a three pointer that banked in to extend the lead and Collins was fouled, the Eagle player fouled out, and technical foul was called and Collins hit three of four free throws and closed the gap to 58-56. Mexia would get no closer and finish the game with a 71-64 victory, putting the teams with three losses each as the regular season nears its end.
Kohl Collins led the Eagles with 17 points in the game and Kel Collins led all scorers with 39 points in a losing effort for the Blackcats
Fairfield travelled to Elkhart to finish the week and battled the winless Elks. Turner scored eight points in the first half, McElroy added seven, as did Jeremy Brackens. Fairfield built a big first half lead. Franklin scored nine points in the second period and trailed the Eagles 41-20.
The Eagles continued to play well with the lead. Colvert scored six of his eight in the second half and McElroy added seven more to total 14 for the game. The Eagle defense held Elkhart to 16 second half points and completed a 75-36 win.
Fairfield remains tied with Mexia in the loss column and will host district leading Westwood on Tuesday. The Eagles have clinched a playoff spot and will head to the Division I playoffs but a win against the Panthers would hold the tie between the potential Division I teams (Fairfield and Mexia).
The Eagles will play at Teague on Friday, and all eyes will continue to monitor Buffalo finals as the regular season winds to an end.
(Photos by Natalia V. Marsters)
