Fairfield falls short in OT

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield girls basketball team has been on a roll in Southeast Conference matchups this season, holding second place at 6-1, but on Thursday night Fort Madison got the better of the Trojans.

The two teams traded blows all night long, with the largest lead being six points. It was the Bloodhounds who came out on top with a plethora of free throws combined with missed opportunities by the Trojans, who fell 34-28.

It was a true defensive battle between the two teams. The Trojans only allowed the Bloodhounds to convert six field goals the entire contest. Fort Madison also made it hard on Fairfield by limiting its offensive game plan and inside game.

“We missed inside shots and layups,” Fairfield head coach Pat Pacha said. “In a 25-25 game going into overtime, that’s huge.”

Neither team could gain an advantage in the first half. Fairfield trailed Fort Madison by just three, 10-7, after the first quarter and only two at the halftime break, 17-15.

In the third quarter, the two teams combined for seven points. Fairfield’s Delaney Breen scored a quick five points to start the quarter from a layup and a shot from deep. It was all the Trojans would score in the quarter, as Fort Madison did well to contain the Fairfield offense.

“They were bodying us up really well,” Pacha said. “They were playing physical. It was a physical game for the most part on our end of the court. We weren't able to get penetration.”

Despite scoring just five points, the Trojans were able to limit Fort Madison to just two points coming from a pair of free throws near the end of the quarter. Fairfield held a 20-19 lead heading into the fourth.

The fourth quarter was as tight as it could be, as the lead was never more than two points. The Trojans had the game in their grasp after Mallory Lyon hit two free throws late to give the Trojans a 25-23 lead with under a minute to play, but the Bloodhounds Malarie Ross hit her eleventh and twelfth free throws of the contest to tie it.

“They called us for a lot of fouls when she was driving,” Pacha said. “We tried to get off and help, that’s just part of the game. I thought defensively, we did a great job.”

Ross was fouled once more with eight seconds on the clock, but with the crowd roaring around her, she missed both, giving Fairfield a shot to win at the buzzer. The Trojans came down court and got the ball into Delaney Breen’s hands, but after one dribble her three ball was tipped, sending the game to overtime.

In overtime, Fairfield continued to struggle on the offensive end, making just one field goal, while Fort Madison grabbed seven points from the foul line. Fairfield was outscored 9-3 in the extra period, sealing its defeat.

The Bloodhounds made just one field goal in the second half and overtime, but hit 15 foul shots, 13 of which came from Ross.

For Fairfield, Danielle and Delaney Breen led with nine points. Mallory Lyon finished with five. Kelsey Pacha chipped in three and Anna Dunlap two.

The Bloodhounds were propelled by Ross who finished with 22 points while shooting 17 for 22 from the line. Fort Madison made 20 out of 26 from the foul line.

Fairfield drops to 6-2 in the SEC standings and 9-6 overall. Keokuk now has a commanding lead on the first seed, sitting at 9-0 in the league.

The Trojans will be back in action on Jan. 31 when they take on Albia, 2-14.