No. 7 Trojan boys keep moving up

After starting the season 12-3 overall and 6-0 in the Southeast Conference, the Fairfield boys' basketball team entered the Associated Press poll at No. 9 in Class 3A last week. The Trojans are now 7-0 in the conference and 14-3 overall after holding off Keokuk on Feb. 1 and more than doubling up Centerville Monday night when they walloped the Big Reds 68-29 in a non-conference makeup game that was rescheduled from last week's polar vortex mess. The Ledger and it's fellow voters have moved the Trojans up to the No. 7 slot where they are behind No. 5 Pella who defeated Fairfield 50-37 in the Tulip City back on Dec. 11.

Class 3A

1 Clear Lake 17-0

2 Norwalk 13-3

3 Maquoketa 15-1

4 Sergeant Bluff-Luton 15-3

5 Pella 13-4

6 West Delaware, Manchester 13-4

7 Fairfield 13-3

8 Glenwood 12-4

9 Carroll 13-3

10 Denison-Schleswig 12-4

Others receiving votes: Gilbert 14, Oskaloosa 14, Marion 5, Boone 3, Spencer 3, Cedar Rapids Xavier 2, Center Point-Urbana 1, Le Mars 1 and Storm Lake 1

'Being recognized in the rankings is always a compliment,” said Head Coach Mick Flattery, 'However, like any coach would say, we want those high rankings at the end of the season.”

Centerville

Fairfield dominated the Big Reds in all facets of the game from the opening tip and outscored their offense 17-9 through eight minutes of play. The Trojans extended that lead to 20 at the half when they held Centerville to just four points in the second quarter in large part due to forcing 23 turnovers and making 17 steals for the game.

'I loved the guys focus at both ends of the court,” said Flattery. 'Centerville came in as a team that had been winning a lot of games in the month of January and Coach Kruzich always has his guys playing hard.”

Another 19-9 run in the third quarter that continued into a 16-7 advantage during the fourth led to a rolling clock in the final minutes of the ball game for the Trojans.

'Our defensive intensity was really good,” added Flattery. ' We communicated and played well together at whatever we were running and nine put backs from the team was a season best.”

Playing time

With 5:37 left and Fairfield leading 58-22, Flattery subbed in Brittan Bowman, Drew Martin, Mark Diers, Landon Kooiker and Carter Ferrel, giving the Trojan starting five a chance to cheer on their reserves that normally rotate in depending on the situation. That led to the senior Bowman hitting a left-handed sky hook for two points that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

'I've been working on that all year,” said the southpaw that also plays football and baseball and sings and dances in several groups and productions at FHS.

With 2:20 on the clock, Flattery subbed in juniors Matthew Swanson and Elan Ledger along with sophomores Ethan Waugh and Nathan Whitney to get all 13 dressed Trojans into the contest.

Stats

Tristin Waugh 18 points, four rebounds and three assists; Austin Simpson 15 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and two blocks; Collin Breen 14 points and three steals; Carson Crile six points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists; Landon Kooiker four points; Cole Engle two points, five rebounds and two steals; Mark Diers two points and four steals; Brittan Bowman two points; Carter Ferrel two points; Ethan Waugh two points and Drew Martin one point.

Next

The Trojans game at Chariton has been cancelled due to expected inclement weather leaving the next scheduled contest for Fairfield Friday at home versus Fort Madison whom they defeated 61-57 back on Jan. 4.