The Fairfield Eagles notched a pair of road wins over Westwood and Elkhart to tighten up the playoff race and take an edge over Groesbeck and Teague. Franklin and Crockett lead the district race with Fairfield in position for third.
Fairfield started the week in Palestine to take on the Westwood Panthers. The Eagles got off to a quick start with Kamren Griffin scoring on a pair of possessions, one on an assist pass from Rex Bean and the other on a drive to the basket for the early lead.
The game would turn to a free throw shooting contest for Westwood and they shot themselves into the lead from the charity stripe. With a three pointer thrown in, the Panthers took the lead and led 14-10 after the first period.
The score would change hands a few times in the remaining moments of the first half and a pair of shots from long distance would put the Panthers in the lead at the half 34-31.
Fairfield made a big run in the first of the second half with a 20-0 run to take a big lead they would keep for the remainder of the game.
Griffin had a steal and scored and he also finished off a transition score on a steal by Caleb George. Griffin had a follow up on another George steal. Pierre Allgood and Dekerione Cunningham had scores and Griffin continued to heat up and the Eagles led 51-34 midway through the third.
They would hold the double digit lead and win the game on the road 79-60. They entered the night in a three-way tie for third but they would take a game lead when Teague lost to Buffalo and the Groesbeck Goats were edged by a point to district leader Franklin.
Fairfield would return to the next county to take on the Elkhart Elks. The Eagles started quicker than Tuesday night but had to weather a couple of comebacks to pull away late.
Cunningham had a steal and score and Allgood scored early. Cunningham hit a runner and Griffin hit a three point from way behind the line for the early 9-2 lead. Allgood, Zimmerman, and Daniels scored on key possessions and the Eagles led 22-11 after one.
Elkhart had a pair of three pointers sandwiched by a thunder dunk by Griffin to hold a lead. Late three pointers cut the Eagle lead to 34-31 at the half.
The Elks would take a lead in the third period but the Eagle seniors put Fairfield ahead to stay. Griffin had a steal and score and Bean hit a three pointer. Cunningham and Allgood finished off possessions to seal a 64-54 win.
The district race should begin to settle out beginning Tuesday when the Teague Lions visit the Johnson Activity Center and then the Eagles finish the week on the road to Franklin.
(Photos by Shae Garcia)
