Trojans go on run, extend streak to eight

On January 14, 8-2 Fairfield hosted Class 4A Cedar Rapids Washington and trailed by a point early before giving up a double digit run that allowed the visiting Warriors to hold off a Trojan comeback. One month and eight wins later, Fairfield has yet to lose after Thursday night's 68-63 victory over Knoxville and the Trojans are now Southeast Conference champions for the first time in a decade and a half.

'There's no other place I'd rather be, these are all my Valentines,” said head coach Mick Flattery's wife Sarah even with Fairfield down a bucket at the half, 31-28.

'We came out a little dry in the first half, but we came out with a fire under us in the second half and we were moving and passing better as a team,” said senior Austin Simpson.

Sarah's love and a pep talk from her husband Mick must have done the trick, because the boys came out and scored the only eight points of the third quarter over the first 6:31 of the period before doubling that total over the next 80 seconds. Collin Breen then answered Knoxville's first basket of the half, a 3-pointer, with a long ball of his own that banked in off the glass to give the home team a 47-34 lead and a world of confidence headed into the final eight minutes of play.

'It was a good win at home to wrap up regular season at 16-3,” said Mr. Flattery. 'Knoxville lives on the perimeter and shot them a lot. In the second half we had much more energy and played with much more sense of urgency.”

Stats

Austin Simpson 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists; Tristin Waugh 17 points and three assists; Collin Breen 17 points and four assists; Cole Engle seven points and three rebounds; Drew Martin six points; Landon Kooiker three points.

Next

Home Monday versus Centerville in round one of the Class 3A substate five basketball tournament.