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Fairfield girls basketball knocked off the top line
Keokuk hands Trojans first SEC loss, takes over first place alone
FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield girls basketball team was tagged with its first Southeast Conference loss on Monday, three nights after moving to 3-0 on Friday.
In a battle of SEC unbeatens, the Trojans let a slow start come back to haunt them, as Keokuk slipped away 54-46 to sit alone atop the conference standings.
Keokuk exploded out of the gates, going on a 13-0 run to start the contest. Fairfield coach Pat Pacha called a timeout to settle his team down, but the Trojans would be working off that deficit all night long.
“That was huge,” Pacha said after the game. “They came out and took us right at us.”
Fairfield eventually settled down and cut the lead to 14-5 after one period. The Trojans trailed 20-13 at the halftime break.
Danielle Breen scored five points in the first half and paced the Trojans again in the second, but Fairfield had trouble stringing baskets together ast hey attempted to cut into the Chiefs lead. Keokuk held a 34-24 advantage after three quarters, but the Trojans had one last run in them toward the end of the fourth.
Fairfield’s pressure defense hurried the Chiefs up to force a handful of turnovers and missed baskets on the Keokuk end. The Trojans sliced the lead back down to five points when Savannah Hollander converted on a 3-point play midway through the fourth.
“We cut it to five a couple of times,” Pacha said. “But we just couldn't get over that hump.”
Danielle Breen finished the night with 12 points to lead the team. Anna Dunlap scored seven. Mallory Lyon had six. Hollander ended the game with five. Delaney Breen and Brynley Allison scored four each, Ashlyn Lisk had three, and Kelsey Pacha scored two.
Keokuk star Abby Wolter, who currently sits Top-5 in Class 4A scoring, scored 21 points.
Fairfield is now 4-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play. They’ll begin 2021 with a game at Centerville on Jan. 3. The Trojans’ next shot at Keokuk comes on Feb. 4.
“I would hope we're excited to play them again,” Pacha said. “You just can't get into that hole.”
Fairfield’s Savannah Hollander splits Keokuk defenders for a basket, plus the foul, in Monday night’s Southeast Conference loss. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Fairfield’s Anna Dunlap launches a 3-pointer during the Trojans’ loss to Keokuk on Monday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Fairfield’s Kelsey Pacha handles the ball during the Trojans’ loss to Keokuk on Monday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
