The Fairfield Eagles worked overtime to earn a spot in the state Class 3A playoffs. Fairfield moves on to take on the District 19-3A champion Lorena this week.
Fairfield needed a win and a Teague loss to Westwood to end the season tied with the Lions and force a one game playoff. Teague lost to Westwood and Fairfield jumped out with a double-digit lead in Buffalo to move closer to the goal.
Pierre Algood scored 19 points and Hicks added 15 and Collins poured in ten and the Eagles held off the Bison for a 69-41 win.
Fairfield and Teague selected Madisonville High School as the site for the one game playoff to determine the final playoff spot behind Westwood, Franklin and Mexia.
The Eagles opened the game with a sizeable lead with Collins scoring eight in the paint in the opening period. Canady added six and the Eagles led 25-15. The scoring was a bit slower in the second period. Donte Alexander hit a three pointer and scored on a short jumper for five of his teams nine points and the Eagles added two points to the lead and had a 34-22 halftime lead.
The third period mirrored the second period and Collins scored seven in the frame and the Eagle defense held the Lions to seven points and continued to add to the lead. Fairfield opened the lead with the scoring of Canady, Alexander and Collins and closed out the win, securing the playoff spot in District 20-3A with the 62-41 win.
The District 20-3A winners finished in a tri-championship between Mexia, winners over Franklin in the finale, and Westwood. They chose to not play that on the court and Franklin won the flip and head to the postseason as the top seed, followed by Westwood and Mexia. Fairfield took the final playoff spot and will now head to the postseason to take on Lorena at Corsicana High School Tuesday night. The game is scheduled for a 5:30 tipoff.
