The Fairfield Eagles worked through the district schedule with two wins on scheduled games, but the makeup game in Franklin came up short and the Eagles suffered their first district loss.
Fairfield opened the night with a date against the Buffalo Bison. Both teams worked with a brisk pace in the first quarter and a couple of three pointers, one by Pierre Allgood and the other by Dekerione Cunningham built a small lead. Asa Henson kept the Bison close. Tyler Smith finished the quarter with a basket and foul and led 22-16 following one quarter.
The Eagles began the second period on a hot note, with a short jumper by Kamren Griffin, a steam and pass to Griffin for a three pointer, and a Griffin steal and score, all in the first 31 seconds of the second period. Cunningham passed to Eric Lyle cutting to the basket for a score and Caleb George passed one to Smith for a score and the Bison were buried under the first couple of minutes of the period. Rex Bean hit a three pointer and the Eagles finished the second with a 35-12 run and a 57-28 halftime lead.
The teams matched each other in the second half and the Eagles held the lead for the eventual 92-57 win. Griffen led all scorers with 22 points and reserve George Zimmerman had a big final quarter with eight points, including a pair of three pointers.
Fairfield returned to the Johnson Activity Center for a game against the Palestine Westwood Panthers. The Eagle offense picked up where it left off on Tuesday with and easy Cunningham basket and a three pointer by Smith. The Eagle defensive turned up the heat and allowed seven points and Fairfield led 15-7.
The Eagle offense clicked to another big second period. Griffin hit three straight and Cunningham nailed three three pointers and Bean added another. Fairfield outscored the Panthers 28-12 in the second and led 43-19 at halftime.
Each time Westwood mounted a couple of scores, the Eagles would get a run and replenish the lead and add some to it. Griffin added a pair of drives to the basket and Smith and Allgood scored to push the lead to 30. Fairfield led 62-29 after three quarters.
The final period saw many reserves hit the floor and none were bigger that a pair of three pointers by Zach Phillips. He buried the shots and the entire building erupted in a barrage of cheers for the senior guard. The final score was a big Fairfield win 78-39.
Fairfield had to makeup an earlier game with district co-leader Franklin. The Eagles travelled to Franklin take on the Lions on Saturday afternoon. Both teams sported an unbeaten record in district play, but the Lions were too much on the day and finished with a 64-51 win over Fairfield.
The Eagles missed their first nine shots from the field and the Lions jumped out to a quick 12-0 lead. Fairfield used a timeout to halt the pace but still allowed 25 first quarter points to have a double-digit lead.
Fairfield had a quick 5-0 run to begin the second period, with a drive from Allgood and a Cunningham three pointer. Griffin scored to cut the lead to 26-17. From there, the Eagles ran off six straight with great defense and transition baskets, by Bean, Smith, and Allgood, to cut the lead to 27-23. After missing their 11 shots in the second, Franklin hit two shots from the field and four free throws to maintain an eight-point lead 33-25.
The Eagles took the court to open the second half, but they missed nine shots in a row and built the lead back to double figures.
Franklin hit half of their shots to raise the lead to 51-31. Some late scoring cut the lead to the final of 64-51.
