Trojan girls to host Mt. Pleasant Friday

On Friday, the Fairfield Trojan girls? basketball team will open the second half of its conference schedule with a large momentum boost after knocking off No. 1 Ballard on Saturday. Here?s what to watch for in Fairfield?s matchup with the rival Mt. Pleasant Panthers:

THE NUMBERS:

Fairfield: Record: 8-5; Points Per Game: 55.7; Points Allowed Per Game: 47.8. Streak: Won 2.

Mt. Pleasant: Record: 3-7; PPG: 44.0; PAPG: 49.1. Streak: Won 1.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS:

Fairfield: Scoring: Nicole Buch 14.4 PPG, Sami Fritz 10.9 PPG, Kylie Kurtz 9.5 PPG; Rebounding: Fritz 7 RPG, Mikaela Lunsford 4.3 RPG, Delaney Ridgway 3.8 RPG; Assists : Turnovers: Buch 43 : 26 (1.65 ratio), Fritz 42 : 46 (0.91), Kurtz 22 : 29 (0.75); Steals: Buch 38, Fritz 37, Kurtz 28.

Mt. Pleasant: Scoring: Kalynn Batey 9.5 PPG, Sarah Moffett 8.9 PPG, D?Jannay Patterson 8.7 PPG; Rebounding: Moffett 6.2 RPG, Bailey Johnson 4.4 RPG, Ally Davis 3.9 RPG; Assists : Turnovers: Brianna Shelman 16 : 27 (0.87), Batey 18 : 36 (0.5), Moffett 12 : 16 (0.75); Steals: Shelman 23, Batey 15, Patterson 12.

LAST MEETING:

The Trojans picked up a stressless road victory over the Panthers on Dec. 4, winning 58-35. Nicole Buch scored 18 points in the win, while Mackenzie Flattery came off the bench to connect on four of her six three-point attempts to lead the team on that front. Kylie Kurtz, Delaney Ridgway and Sami Fritz each knocked on the door of double-digit points and the Trojans held seniors D?Jannay Patterson and Ally Davis to six and five points respectively.

FREE POINTS:

Fairfield?s free throw shooting has been spectacular in two of the team?s last three games, as the team shot 15-18 against Ballard and 20-25 in a loss to Keokuk. As the season progresses, the Trojans have been much more aggressive inside at drawing fouls and going to the line, and if they?re going to see continued success, accuracy from the charity stripe will be a focal point for the team moving forward.

RETURNING HOME VICTORIOUS:

Expect a huge ovation for Fairfield in the first home game since that big win at Ballard. The crowd and fan support has been outstanding for the team thus far this season and something that head coach Mick Flattery says really pumps the team up for home games. It will only be the fifth home game of the young season so far, and Fairfield is 4-1 on its own court. Last time the Trojans were home, the team lost 58-50 to a tough Pella squad. Earlier in the season however, Fairfield beat up Oskaloosa 103-43 in one of the most dominating performances of the season.

FLUSTERING THE OPPONENT:

Fairfield?s zone defense had an absolute field day with Gabie Doud on Saturday, holding the all-stater to only 3-11 shooting from the floor. How much of that was the Trojans? fault and how much was it just Doud having a bad day? Nobody knows, but it?s not the first time Fairfield?s had a good day defensively against a superstar. The Trojans held Lela Sellers to only 13 points for Cedar Rapids ? Kennedy (in what was a big loss), but Fairfield has shown that it?s going to take more than one good player to beat them. The team shows excellent rotation defensively and rarely gives opponents open shots, which can definitely do a number on a foe?s confidence and give Fairfield late-game opportunities to rally back from a deficit or increase a lead. The Trojans sport a high-powered offense, but it?s when the defense is on that they?re most successful.

EYES ON KEOKUK:

The Trojans? only conference loss came on the road to the Chiefs. If both teams win their remaining games and Fairfield can beat Keokuk at home on Feb. 5, the Trojans and Chiefs will split the conference title. If a Southeast Conference rival can provide a little help and knock Keokuk down one peg, then that game becomes a contest for sole possession of the title. The Chiefs will host Fort Madison tonight and defeated the Bloodhounds on the road 38-27 on Dec. 4.

LEADING THE SOUTHEAST:

Nicole Buch leads the conference in scoring, assists and steals. In all three categories, the sophomore is just edging out her teammate, senior Sami Fritz, who trails Buch by four points per game, one assists and one steal. One edge that Fritz has sole possession of is the conference rebounding title with 91 on the season, just ahead of Fort Madison?s Mercedes Trimble.