KERSHAW – After a first round thriller win in the SCHSL Class AA playoffs, Fairfield Central’s boys saw their postseason run come to an end on Friday night in Kershaw, falling 70–58 to top-seeded Andrew Jackson.
A slow start in the second round game proved costly for the Griffins, held to just seven points in the opening frame. The Volunteers jumped out to a nine-point lead in the first quarter. Fairfield found more offensive rhythm in the second, but Andrew Jackson had a 39-35 cushion by halftime. The Griffins outscored the Volunteers 33-31 in the second half, but the first half deficit was too much.
Senior Rashawn Brown led the Griffins with a team-high 20 points, adding four rebounds and three steals. Junior Kamauri Jones had 18 points to go along with five boards and four steals. Thomas Johnson chipped in nine points and Desmond Edmonds had seven. Senior Khaleb Feaster controlled the glass with a team-high eight rebounds.
Defensively, Fairfield Central remained active throughout the night, tallying 11 deflections and a series of steals to keep the pressure on. Jones led the team with three deflections, while Feaster, Brown, Edmonds, and Romero Coleman Jr. each recorded two.
The loss draws a close to a successful season for the Griffins, who finish with a 14–11 overall record. Fairfield Central was a force in league play this year, finishing second in AA Region 3 with an 8–2 record under head coach Tyrell Manning.
Andrew Jackson’s title dreams were dashed on Feb. 27 by a 55–46 loss to High Point. Fairfield Central now looks toward next year, graduating a strong senior class led by Brown, Feaster, Edmonds, and Johnson, while returning key impact players like Jones and Kelvin Watson.
FAIRFIELD CENTRAL – 7-18-13-20 – 58
ANDREW JACKSON – 16-23-14-17 – 70
FAIRFIELD CENTRAL
Brown 20. Jones 18. Johnson 9. Edmonds 7. Watson 3. Feaster 1.
ANDREW JACKSON
H Dodd 14. Z Clyburn 13. N Marcum 12. J Brown 11. D Seegars 10. B Surdivant 10.
