FMS girls survive in Keokuk

KEOKUK ? In what proved to be the toughest game for the eighth-grade girls yet, the ?A? team came out on top with a final of 37-22.

Kylie Kurtz paced the Trojans to a 20-12 halftime lead with 12 points. Kenady Waugh had nine points and Mikaela Lunsford scored seven. Haley Beard contributed six points, Kaylee Watson scored two and Sam Fritz knocked in a free throw.

?Tonight was two tough teams just battling it out. It was very physical, but it was nice to come out on top,? said Fairfield coach Derek Philips. ?Keokuk forced us to make turnovers, which we need to cut down on, but that is what good teams do. We stuck with our game plan, moved the ball well in the fourth quarter and got some defensive stops.?

In the ?B? game, the lead was never more than three for either team until late in the fourth quarter, and the Trojans ended up winning 23-20.

Kailey Kaska scored seven, Maggie Ferrel finished with six points and Sarah Swanson added four. Natalie Angstead, Shelby Heston and Amber Samuelson scored two points each.

?The game was back and forth all night, but we pulled away in the fourth. We had a couple of baskets and got fouled, which was a big momentum swing our way,? said Philips.

The team?s next game is Thursday at Burlington?s Edward Stone.