Defeated! Fairfield ends West Burlington’s streak

FAIRFIELD — The unbeaten West Burlington boys basketball team is unbeaten no more.

On Monday night at Fairfield High School, the Trojan boys spoiled a previously unblemished record for the fifth-ranked (2A) Falcons. Fairfield handed West Burlington a 70-63 loss just two nights after the Falcons won the Southeast Iowa Super Conference Shootout championship.

The Trojans had to survive a barrage of outside shots for the Falcons in the opening minutes. West Burlington’s Mason Watkins scored 14 first quarter points, including a half-court buzzer-beater and the Trojans found themselves down 22-17 early.

Fairfield’s JJ Lane scored eight points in the second quarter, including a game-tying 3-pointer in the final minute. The Trojans won the period by five points, and it was all knotted up at 34-34 despite the Falcons’ hot shooting from downtown.

“Coach told us how good of shooters they were, and still, them coming out and shooting the ball that well really did surprise us,” said Fairfield senior Tate Allen. “In the second half, our Coach told us, don’t let them touch the ball, and JJ and I did our best.”

Not only did the Fairfield defense step up in the second half, but the offense caught fire as well. Allen led the team to a 21-point third quarter, one that would prove to be the difference in the game, as Fairfield held a 55-47 lead after three periods.

“It’s just a big testament to the hard work we’re putting in every day,” Allen said. “It shows how hard we’re working behind the scenes.”

West Burlington had its shots down the stretch. Down six points in the final minute, the Falcons grabbed offensive rebound after offensive rebound in a mad scramble that saw multiple West Burlington 3-point attempts rim out. Eventually, the ball wound up the hands of another senior, Miles McEntee, who put the game away with a free throw that put the Trojans up by three possessions.

Max Weaton had another monster night, scoring 23 points and grabbing 20 rebounds to lead the Trojans to victory. Allen scored 22 points. Lane had 16 points and six assists. Ryan Higgins scored seven. McEntee and Riley Perkins each had one.

On senior night, all but one point was scored by Fairfield’s senior class.

“They’ve been together for a long, long time,” said Trojan head coach Mick Flattery. “You just don’t see, in this day and age, seven or eight seniors that stick it out. These guys are very close. They’re good buddies with each other.”

Along with knocking West Burlington down to 19-1 with the win, Fairfield moved to 9-8 themselves with another non-conference game set for Tuesday night in Mid-Prairie. Results from that game will be in Thursday’s Union papers.