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Fairfield flies in 2nd half
Trojan girls run past Van Buren County in first game back
FAIRFIELD — The 2024 calender year began with a bang in Fairfield as the Trojan girls scooped up their second win of the season.
The Trojans welcomed in a close-quarters foe in fellow Union area squad Van Buren County. Both teams were looking for win number two, and it was Fairfield that got it, winning 59-42.
Van Buren County had the hot hand early. Sophia Jirak knocked down a couple of 3-pointers in the opening period and had nine at the quarter break, as the Warriors led the Trojans 13-11 after the first quarter.
Van Buren County led by as much as seven points in the second quarter, but Fairfield began to battle back in the final minutes. Grace Lyon sank a put-back layup at the buzzer and it was 21-21 going into the halftime break.
Fairfield completely controlled the second half. The Trojans used an eight-point quarter from Savannah Hollander to build a 43-30 lead after three periods.
“We came into the second half saying, we need to break this down into two-minute segments,” said Trojan head coach Rebecca Becker. “It was really, 'own the first two minutes of the second half,' and that's what we did.”
Hollander continued to rack up the points in the second half. She scored six points in the final period to finish with 23, a game-high.
“I think in the second half, we got all of our nerves out of the way, and it was more of a team effort,” Hollander said. “We all stuck together, and I really thought we improved.”
Hollander says she enjoyed playing against VBC, a team that she knows well.
“I'm friends with all of them,” Hollander said. “I wanted them to win just as much as us, because I care about them so much, and they deserve it too.”
Hollander said she particularly enjoyed playing with former softball teammate Ivy Davidson, who scored 11 for the Warriors.
Along with Hollander’s 23, Fairfield also had a 16-point outing from Lyon. Faith Jones scored nine. Maddie Martin put up four. Lauren Martin scored three, and Emma Metcalf finished with two.
Jirak scored 13 points to lead the Warriors. Davidson and Marlee Mertens both scored 11. Callie Kracht finished with four, and Sydney Meierotto scored two.
Fairfield (2-8, 0-4) will travel to Mt. Pleasant on Friday night. Van Buren County (1-7, 1-6) will play at Columbus on Thursday.
