Chandon Davis (12) gets some air against the Rebels Tuesday. (Photo/DeAnna Robinson)
Boys Need OT in Region Thriller
WINNSBORO – The Fairfield Central High School Griffins hosted the Rebels of Mid-Carolina High School Tuesday night in Class 2A Region III action. Both the Griffin girls and boys were victorious. The girls won by a score of 45-32. The boy’s game was much closer, tied 66-66 at the end of regulation play, but ultimately was a Griffin victory, following the 4-minute overtime, by a score of 82-72.
Girls
The ladies opened the festivities, with the Lady Rebels jumping out to a 6-4 lead early in the game. Things turned around when Fairfield’s Chyna Moore hit the first of two 3-pointers in the first period. The Lady Griffins never looked back after that for the remainder of the first half. At the mid-game buzzer, Fairfield led 34-13.
The Rebels were obviously well coached, and had an advantage with game fundamentals, but the Griffins were far more aggressive and had the speed advantage. The speed and aggressiveness of the Griffins did the trick tonight.
Following halftime, the Lady Rebels were not admitting defeat. Defensively, they held the Griffins to jut 13 points for the remainder of the game. However, they could only put 19 points on the board themselves. It was not enough to overcome the first half deficit; but a great effort, notwithstanding.
Boys
As with the girls, the difference in the teams’ playing styles could not have been more different. The Rebels were taller, had more finesse than Fairfield, but were not as quick and were less accurate from outside the 3-point line. The team relied on the height and shooting skill of their big man, Zach Parker. Parker was the game’s high scorer with 32 points.
The Rebel boys held the lead through the first period, thanks to two 3-pointers by Parker and another from Isaiah Williams. Fairfield hit four baskets and two free throws, ending the first period in the hole, 15-10. The Rebels maintained their lead over the Griffins, leading by as much as 11 points. By halftime, the lead was down to nine, 29-20.
Fairfield Central’s Shadarius Hopkins was the star of the second half. Hopkins hit two 3-pointers and a field goal in the period. The team was able to whittle down the Rebel lead gradually until, with 3:47 to go in the period, they tied the score 37. Thanks to a goal by Akyel Richmond, the team even edged ahead by two. However, Mid-Carolina came back and led the game into the final quarter, 48-44.
The fourth quarter was as exciting a quarter as basketball gets. The teams swapped the lead several times, and with 2:30 to go, Parker hit two free throws to tie the game 60-60. Brandon Adams hit a 3-pointer in the next possession to regain the lead for the Griffins, 63-60. A basket and two successful free throws by the Rebels shifted the lead again, 64-63, with a minute to go. Parker was fouled, and hit both foul shots to extend the lead to 66-63. Fairfield Central hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game at 66.
The 4-minute overtime was a period the Rebels would like to forget. Things went the Griffins’ way for all 4 minutes. Mid-Carolina was only able to hit three baskets, while Fairfield sunk 11 free throws, scored another Hopkins 3-pointer and a basket by Richmond to put it away.
