Panthers hit stride past Trojans

FAIRFIELD — Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield girls basketball met on the hardwood Friday night for the first time this season.

When all was said and done in the Southeast Conference clash, it was Mt. Pleasant that strutted out of Fairfield with a 60-25 victory.

The Panthers put together one of their better all around games of the year, while the Trojans struggled to find their shot early thanks to the Panther defensive pressure.

Mt. Pleasant wasted no time on setting the tone in the game as they quickly jumped out to a 6-1 lead in over three minutes of action, with four points coming from senior Tristian Shull.

Fairfield’s one point came within the first two minutes to make it 3-1, but the Trojans wouldn’t score again until the final minute.

During that span, the Panthers scored 16 unanswered to make it 19-1 with just over a minute to go.

Fairfield's Maddie Jones dropped in a pair from the stripe to make it 19-3 heading into the second.

In the second, it was more of the same.

Mt. Pleasant kicked off another run to start the quarter, this time scoring eight straight in over four and a half minutes to make it 31-6.

The Trojans first bucket came from Ashlyn Lisk with 3:32 in the quarter, making it a 31-6 ballgame.

In the final three minutes, the Panthers never let off the gas.

Andrea Lopreato kicked off a 9-5 run, in which she scored seven herself, to the end of the quarter.

The run put the Panthers up 40-11 at the break.

Lisk gave the Trojans a boost at the end of the quarter as she hit a three as time expired to get the Trojan into double digits.

The third quarter proved to continued the Trojans offensive struggles.

Mt. Pleasant once again started with a big run. The Panthers scored 12 unanswered up until the Trojans scored their first points with 43 seconds on the clock.

Fairfield scored just three points in the third. Mt. Pleasant held a 52-14 lead heading into the fourth.

In the fourth, Fairfield was able to edge the Panthers 11-8, but the deficit was too great.

With the win, Mt. Pleasant moves to 7-7, 4-2, while Fairfield drops to 2-10, 2-5.