Trojan boys rally for split

FAIRFIELD - It's gotta be the socks.

At least that's what Fairfield senior Blake Holden says. The Trojans' senior leader was wearing his lucky footwear on Monday night when he hit two dagger 3-pointers to help the Trojan boys fend off West Burlington 65-62. The Fairfield girls pushed No. 6 (3A) West Burlington to the limit in the first game but fell 53-51.

'We found out about the magical socks yesterday in practice,” Holden said. Yesterday I couldn't miss, so I had my mom wash them up and I wore them today.”

The ball found Holden, who was starting in place of the injured Isaac Harris, when West Burlington was right in the middle of a potential go-ahead rally. West Burlington had trimmed a double-digit deficit down to just one point, at 53-52, with three minutes left, but Holden nailed back-to-back 3-pointers from the corner to halt the rally. The Falcons put together one last run in the final minute, but Tate Allen's layup and two free throws down the stretch moved the Trojan boys back into the winner's column.

'That's a good win for our kids,” Fairfield boys head coach Mick Flattery said. 'Especially coming off that tough loss to Keokuk on Friday.”

West Burlington had the hot hand early, leading 20-10 after one quarter. The Trojans battled back to cut it to 30-28 at halftime, helped out by 12 first-half points from JJ Lane, three of which came on a buzzer-beating bank shot from beyond half court at the second quarter buzzer.

Lane led the Trojan boys with 19 points. Max Weaton had 15. Tate Allen scored 12. Holden finished with 11. Evan Haines and Joey Valdez scored three apiece.

The Fairfield girls put quite the scare into the one-loss Falcons. Fairfield hung in all game, trailing 13-9 after one quarter and 27-24 at halftime, before taking a temporary lead in the third quarter on a Delaney Breen 3-pointer. West Burlington kept answering the call, however, and Daniell Breen's potential game-tying floater at the buzzer narrowly rimmed out.

'That's all you can ask for is a chance against an 18-1 basketball team,” Fairfield girls coach Pat Pacha said. 'I thought we found our identity tonight.”

Dlany Breen had 18 points in the loss. Hannah Simpson scored 16. Danielle Breen had seven. Mallory Lyon scored six. Kelsey Pacha and Brynley Allison finished with two apiece.

The Fairfield boys (4-10, 2-6) will be back in action on Friday night when they host Mt. Pleasant. Tonight's scheduled game at Chariton has been canceled. The girls (8-5, 6-2) will host Knoxville tonight (Tuesday).