The Fairfield Eagles dropped two district games this week to Franklin and Crockett as the season winds to a close. Fairfield makes up a game with Teague on Monday to solidify their playoff positioning.
The Eagles hosted district leader Franklin on Tuesday and fell behind early and lost 72-42.
Fairfield made only three of 13 field goals in the first period, however Malcolm Murphy scored eight in the first to take an 11-point lead and hold the double-digit lead throughout the game.
In the second, Kamren Griffin scored two quick baskets to cut the lead to 18-11, but that was as close as they would get the remainder of the night. Franklin scored on four consecutive possessions and the half ended with a Murphy dunk and the Lions added ten points to the lead at 37-18.
Tyler Smith scored on three straight trips down the floor in the third quarter and led the scoring with 17 points.
Fairfield took to the road on Friday to take on the Crockett Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were coming off of a win against Teague and put themselves back in the playoff race. Caleb George took control in the opening minutes and scored the first four points of the game. Late in the period, Crockett hit three straight from long distance and grabbed the lead and held a 26-16 lead at the end of one.
The Eagles got on a streak and cut the lead to 26-22 on a pair of scores from Griffin and a short jumper by Rex Bean. Crockett extended the lead back out to double digits and held on for a 45-32 lead.
Fairfield went to the bench to seek a spark for the Eagle offense and found one with Eric Lyle. He came into the ballgame and hit a shot off an offensive rebound and was fouled with five minutes remaining in the third period. He would add a score off of a missed free throw and fed Smith on fast break baskets near the end of the period. The Eagles shaved four points off the lead and trailed 56-47 going into the fourth period.
The Eagles had a run to open the final period with a three pointer and a short jumper from Bean to cut the lead to 58-53. Lyle returned a missed shot for a score to keep the Eagles within five and on the next possession dished to Smith for the basket. Smith hit a shot and converted the three-point play to trail by two at 65-63 midway through the period. Griffin hit a three pointer and Bean nailed two free throws to give the Eagles their first lead since 4-0.
This was the last time the Eagles would lead. Smith had a steal with 17 seconds remaining and drove in for a chance at the tie but committed the player control foul. Crockett closed the game out at the free throw line and won the key district game 75-70.
The teams combined for 145 points each in two district games to show how evenly matched the district has been this season. Smith scored 22 points to lead the way, followed by Bean with 17 and Griffin with 14 points. Lyle proved to be the spark that got them in the game, and he finished with his most sparkline line score of the season with six points and ten rebounds.
Fairfield will head down the highway to take on the Teague Lions on Monday night and then go a bit further on Tuesday to battle the Groesbeck Goats. Fairfield will be looking for the sweep of both of those teams to ensure a second-place finish in the district race. They finish the regular season hosting the Buffalo Bison on Friday.
(Photo by Ayden Peters, FHS Yearbook)
