Anding?s 22 points not enough for Demon boys

FAIRFIELD ? In a back-and-forth battle featuring 17 lead changes and six ties, Washington?s boys? basketball team fell just short as Fairfield won the game 58-54 behind strong press defense.

Derek Anding led the Demons with 22 points on the evening. Dalton Myers was the next highest scorer with nine points and six assists, while Bryce Sinn scored four and collected 12 rebounds.

Fairfield?s Carson Crile converted a 3-point play to start the scoring and Anding answered with a 3-pointer on Washington?s first possession to knot the game back up. Sinn gave the Demons their first lead, but Fairfield?s Jordan Reid found an inside basket to bring it even. Anding and Alex Crile traded buckets to make it 7-7. The Trojans were the first team to put together a run, getting a free throw from Reid and Austin Simpson and another basket from Simpson to make it 11-7.

Anding drained another three to cut the Fairfield lead to one point and after a couple of missed free throws by Carson Crile, the Demons reclaimed the lead on a bucket from Sinn. Back and forth the game continued until the first quarter ended with the Trojans leading 16-14.

Dakota Suchan wasted no time in the second quarter, sinking a 3 to give the Demons a 17-16 advantage. After a Fairfield timeout, the Trojans took the lead back on a basket from Simpson, but Washington answered with back-to-back baskets from Jack Redlinger and Anding to lead 25-20. Another 3 from Anding, a layup from Sinn and a final basket from Fairfield from Simpson sent the Demons in at halftime leading 30-27, as Washington outscored Fairfield 16-11 in the second quarter.

The Trojans roared out of the locker room with a pair of baskets to reclaim a 30-29 lead. Redlinger?s 3-pointer made it 33-31, but Webber found another shot inside to tie it back up. The teams traded blows again to tie it at 35. Fairfield then pulled away with a 3-pointer from Carson Crile, helping to make it 44-39 Trojans at the end of quarter number three.

Washington rallied back to start the fourth, getting the first three buckets of the quarter from Dillon, Myers and Suchan to take a 46-44 lead. However, it was the final lead that Washington would hold, as Simpson?s free throw gave the Trojans a 47-46 lead. Fairfield started to press the action in the Washington backcourt, forcing turnovers and Washington fouls on Fairfield possessions.

Alex Crile sunk four straight free throws to make it 57-49 Fairfield and Anding drove to the bucket for two and knocked down a final 3-pointer as time expired, giving Fairfield the 58-54 win.

The Trojans had four scorers in double figures, with Carson Crile?s 18 leading the way. Reid and Webber each scored 12 points and Simpson chipped in 10. The Demons held the Fairfield freshman to 3-13 shooting from the court. In fact, Fairfield as a team shot 21-60 overall, with only Webber having success inside at 6-8.

The loss drops Washington to 4-9 overall this season. The Demons will host Central Lee Tuesday.