Fairfield splits against Centerville

CENTERVILLE — The Fairfield Trojan boys and girls basketball teams are now one game into 2022. The boys picked up their first win of the new year with a 52-28 victory over Centerville, while the girls suffered their first lost in a tense 48-40 defeat on Monday.

The Fairfield boys entered 2022 with hopes to bounce back after a slow start to the season, going 2-5 through late November and December. With the win over the Big Reds, the Trojans begin the new year on track.

From the jump, the Trojans had all the answers, dominating the Big Red in all aspects of the game, and they never looked back.

Early on, Fairfield held on to a nine-point lead after one quarter, while allowing Centerville to score just four points. The Trojans led 13-4 after one.

The second was nearly an reiteration of the first, with Fairfield scoring 11 and holding Centerville to a four points once again. At the half, the Trojans held a 24-8 lead.

In the third, Fairfield had its best quarter on the offensive end. The Trojans practically matched their first half total, while outscoring Centerville 23-10. They led 47-18 heading into the fourth.

Centerville would go on to win the fourth, 10-5, but the damage was too great.

Fairfield was led with a balanced attack in the contest. Nine different Trojans were in the scoring column.

Max Weaton paced the Trojans with 16 points and eight rebounds. Tate Allen scored 12 points. Ryan Higgins added six. Evan Haines and Sam Weaton scored five a piece. Haines also pulled down eight rebounds. Myles McEntee, Joey Valdez, Hunter Cecchini and Ethan Hunger all chipped in two.

In their next matchup, the Trojan boys will take on Southeast Conference foes Washington Friday at home. Fairfield will look to get revenge after a 50-45 loss in the second game of the season.

The Trojan girls entered the new year off a loss to Southeast Conference leader Keokuk, now trailing the Chiefs by one game in the conference standings. Fairfield hoped to use the first game back as momentum for the rest of the season.

Fairfield kept the game close throughout, but couldn’t pull out the out of conference victory.

The Trojans found themselves down early against the South Central Conference leaders, trailing 13-9 after one quarter of play.

Fairfield had its best defensive quarter in the second, holding the Redettes to just six points, while scoring 10 itself.

At the break, the game was all knotted up with both teams tied at 19 all.

Coming out of the locker room, the Trojans played well-rounded defense, allowing only 12 points, but struggled to find any offensive flow, scoring only two points over the eight minute quarter.

Heading into the final quarter of play, Fairfield found itself down 31-21.

In the fourth, both teams had their best offensive output. Fairfield won the quarter 19-17, but the Trojans couldn’t regain the lead and overcome the deficit created in the third.

Next up the Trojans will stay at home, playing host to Washington on Friday. Fairfield defeated the Demons 59-35 in the previous matchup.

Comments: hunter.moeller@southeastiowaunion.com