Simpson double-double downs Burlington

FAIRFIELD - It was a dire situation for Fairfield's girls basketball team Wednesday. It was the first round of the postseason, and the Trojans were trailing in the first quarter, but tied it at 7-7 to start the second frame.

Burlington scored for a 9-7 lead. Olivia Jones got a steal and an assist to Mallory Lyon to start a run of 19 straight points for Fairfield. The situation was not so dire after all as the Trojans cruised to a 57-38 win over Burlington.

'It kind of scared me, and I was just thinking, ‘How is this happening?'” said Fairfield junior Hannah Simpson, who poured in 27 points and pulled out 10 rebounds. 'We got to get going, we got to go. But we are a second-half team.”

The Trojans were a second-quarter team last night behind Lyon and Simpson, who converted 7-of-10 free throws, including five straight in the second quarter when she scored nine points.

'I'm glad they're finally dropping for me because I don't leave practice until I make five in a row,” Simpson said.

Lyon had eight of her nine total points in the quarter. Simpson and Lyon combined for 17 straight before Danielle Breen had two of her 11 points and Brynley Allison two of her five total.

'Hannah was huge,” Fairfield head coach Pat Pacha said. 'I don't know why Burlington wouldn't double team her, but hey that's great.”

'Maybe they tried and didn't do a good job because I was open a lot of the time,” Simpson said. 'I heard a girl say, ‘They're killing us on the inside.'”

Fairfield killed Burlington in two earlier games, 67-33 and 63-28. So the Trojans' first quarter was a new experience against the Grayhounds.

'I think we were a little nervous, and Burlington hit some buckets early they gave them confidence,” Pacha said. In the quarter break, Pacha wasn't concerned. He had a simple message for the Trojans.

Relax.

Simpson's point total wasn't exactly the plan going into the night. She had scored 18 and five in the two previous Burlington games.

'Once we saw that they couldn't or wouldn't guard her, then yes, it was by design,” Pacha said. 'I would've made her kick it out.”

If there was any doubt after the halftime break, Simpson erased it scoring eight in a 12-4 run to start the third quarter. Simpson kept getting a mismatch so the Trojans kept going down low where she was posting up. Simpson is listed at 5-foot-8, but she has the footwork and the ability to use her body to score inside. Her second basket of the second quarter was a fake one way, then a step across the lane and an easy layup.

'I've been working on my moves,” Simpson said. 'I have to get ready for the second round because I know Fort Madison is going to double-team me.”

Fairfield plays at Fort Madison Saturday in the second round. Fort Madison has 42-36 and 51-31 wins over Fairfield.

The Trojans are 10-8 and in a position to avenge two of those losses. The winner of Saturday's game advances to play the winner of North Scott and Keokuk Feb. 23. Keokuk defeated Mt. Pleasant to advance. North Scott and Fort Madison had byes.