Trojans push No. 1 Bloodhounds to their limits

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield boys basketball team has been within striking distance in nearly every loss this season, and against the No. 1 team in class 3A Fort Madison, the game was no different.

The game was all about heart, and the Trojans did not disappoint. Fairfield gave the top team in the class everything they had, but it wasn’t enough as Fort Madison squeaked away with a 57-54 win on Thursday, Jan. 27.

“For our guys to believe they could be in a game like this is great,” Fairfield head coach Mick Flattery said. “We talked with them before the game and told them not to make it bigger than it is. We took a timeout and talked about toughness. We weren't getting on the floor like we should. Right away, Tate Allen went out there and was all over that floor. It became contagious. Sam Weaton started diving around on the floor.”

Fairfield had an opportunity to send the game to overtime, but the shot didn’t fall.

Fairfield’s Tate Allen hit a layup with under 18 seconds to go in the contest to make it a two point game, 56-54. Fairfield quickly fouled, but the ball was in the hands of the Bloodhounds best foul shooter, Miles Dear. Dear stepped up to line, the first shot rims out. The second connects, making it a 57-54 ballgame.

With eight seconds on the clock, Fairfield would have a chance to tie the ballgame. The Trojans first shot attempt didn’t hit rim, but Allen didn’t give up on the play. As the ball was heading out of bounds Allen leapt for it and found JJ Lane beyond the arc. Lane’s three ball had the right trajectory, but fell short as it was rushed by the clock and a quick close out by the Bloodhounds.

The Trojans were left looking up at the scoreboard thinking, “What if?”

“In one way, we’re all competitors, so that look is probably a bit of a feeling that we had a chance to beat No. 1 and came that close to pulling it off wondering if you’ll ever get that chance again,” Flattery said. “On the other side of it, look how close we came to taking down the top team in the state. When you embrace the moment and don't run from it, you give yourself a chance to be No. 1 on the night you play those top teams.”

Fairfield was in the mix all night long.

After the first quarter, the teams were knotted up at 14. In the second, Fairfield’s JJ Lane came out with a five-point spurt that put the Trojans up 19-14, their largest lead of the game. Fort Madison took control for the rest of the quarter. The Bloodhounds went on a 15-7 run to end the quarter, with 11 coming from Dayton Davis. At halftime, Fairfield trailed, 29-26.

In the third, Fort Madison showed no signs of slowing down. The Bloodhounds’ Miles Dear came out extending the lead to 32-26, but Fairfield was ready to weather the storm. Fairfield’s Max Weaton scored five straight to make it a four point game, 35-31, midway through the quarter.

The Bloodhounds did not falter and by the quarter’s end, Fort Madison still held the advantage, 40-33, heading into the fourth.

To start the fourth, it was all Fairfield. Brothers Max and Sam Weaton went on a 7-0 run to tie the game up at 40-40, but Fairfield quickly made it a five point game off a free throw and two easy baskets inside.

The Bloodhounds would hit just two more field goals until the game’s end, but free throws sealed the deal and the game tying shot didn’t fall. Fairfield would come within one-point on three occasions, but Fort Madison always had an answer.

“You don’t have to be No. 1 all season,” Flattery said. “You just have to be No. 1 that night. If we do things a little different, things can turn around and probably will. We’re looking forward to what we’ve got left.”

Max Weaton paced the Trojans with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Lane followed Weaton with 11 points. Allen finished with seven points and seven rebounds. Ryan Higgins and Sam Weaton each added six points. Evan Haines had four and Hunter Cecchini had two.

The Bloodhounds had just three players score in the competition. Dayton Davis had 26, Miles Dear had 23, and Reiburn Turnbull finished with eight.

Fairfield falls to 4-10 overall and 1-7 in Southeast Conference play.