Chandon Davis takes it to the rim against the Raiders. (Photo/DeAnna Robinson)
WINNSBORO – Fairfield Central’s boys’ basketball team (4-2, 1-1) was held away from its third straight win Saturday night by the Keenan Raiders. Keenan took control of the contest with a 13-2 run to start the game on the way to a 59-51 victory.
Fairfield’s Dequan Weldon scored the final two points of the first quarter and poured in the first six points of the second quarter to pull the Griffins to within 16-10, but a 3-ball by Keenan’s Tariq Simmons stretched the Raider advantage back to nine points halfway through the second quarter. Simmons and Antwan Holmes both finished the game with a team-high 14 points. Weldon led all scorers with 23 points.
With just over two minutes remaining in the first half and Keenan leading 22-14, the Griffins scored seven unanswered points to pull within a point at 22-21. Simmons connected on a free throw to stretch the Raider’s slight lead to two points, but Weldon made good on back-to-back free throws to knot the game at 23-23. However, that is as close as Fairfield would get as Keenan’s Thurman Trapp splashed home a 3-ball with just seconds remaining along with a free throw to give the visitors a four-point advantage at 27-24 heading into halftime.
Keenan outscored Fairfield 18-14 in the third quarter and stayed a step ahead of the Griffins as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
The Griffins will compete against Lexington at Bobcats Arena in Charlotte N.C. Monday night. On Dec. 26, 27 and 28, Fairfield will play in the 18th annual District 9 Officials Christmas Tournament at Crestwood High School in Sumter.
Keenan 59, Fairfield Central 51
KH: 13-14-18-14 – 59
FC: 4-19-14-14 – 51
Individual scoring – Fairfield Central: Dequan Weldon 23, Shadarius Hopkins 10, Cameron Roseberry 2, Brandon Adams 10, Chandon Davis 2, Akyel Richmond 2, Nick Rikard 3. Keenan: Tariq Simmons 14, Kendrick Gathers 1, Majerle Poole 6, Daron Johnson 1, Dantrell Sligh-Rodgers 5, Antwan Holmes 14, Ervin Stone 2, Thurman Trapp 6, Lemarcus Johnson 10.
