FAIRFIELD EAGLES VARSITY cager Dominique Owens goes up to grab a rebound in a pre-district contest against the Groesbeck Goats. Also pictured are: l-r, Josh Lynch, Darian Scott and Andre Gilley. A young Fairfield high school Eagles varsity basketball team started the 2008-09 season with a loss, but recovered by the end of the week to win a matchup against the Groesbeck Goats.

The debut was against Bullard, ranked in the Class AAA top 20 in preseason polls.

"They returned everybody," FHS head coach Joey Worley says.

Fairfield, on the other hand, is currently suiting up only 10 players and six of them are sophomore students— three upperclassmen are on the injured list.

"The kids got better as we went on," Worley says of the Bullard opener. "Hopefully, it was a good learning experience."

Fairfield opened the Bullard game with an 11-17 first period, helped when sophomore Chris Burns came off the bench and made six, and trailed 26-46 at the half.

The Eagles were out scored 14-25 in the third period, won the fourth 25-16 and dropped a 65-87 decision.

"They were very aggressive after the ball," Worley reports.

Aggressiveness, which included full- and half-course presses, by Bullard can be borne out in the face that three of their players fouled out of the contest.

"It was quite an experience for our six sophomores," the FHS coach says.

Top scorer for the Eagles was sophomore point guard Darian Scott who connected for 22 points on the night.

Also in double digits, 14 points, was Burns.

Others scoring were: Brodrick White, 6; Evan Simpson, 6; Tevin Green, 4; Dominique Owens, 4; Josh Lynch, 3; Andre Gilley, 2; and Justin Terry, 2.

The Eagles shot 64 percent from the free throw line, making 16 of 25 attempts.

Bullard counted six players in double digits.

Against former district rival Groesbeck, the Eagles had a much better night, leading for three quarters and securing a 60-48 win over the Goats.

The only period Fairfield did not lead was the first, in which they trailed by just a couple points 12-14.

Eagle cagers out scored the Goats 13-6 the second period to take a 25-20 lead at intermission, and added 35 second half points while giving up 28.

"Darian had a big scoring game," Worley says. Scott tallied 20 points to lead the team again.

Others scoring were: Green, 11; Owens, 5; Burns, 4; Gilley, 4; Terry, 3; Evan Simpson, 3; White, 2; and Jacob Cain 1.

Every member of the varsity unit got on the scoreboard against Groesbeck.

Recording a double-double was Green, who snared 15 rebounds to go along with his 11 points.

Sophomores on the varsity team are guard Cain, wings White and Burns, point guard Scott, and posts Terry and Owens.

Upperclassmen who have suited up for the Eagles are posts Green, a sophomore, and Lynch, a senior, senior wing Gilley and junior wing Simpson.

Sitting on the sidelines are junior guard Willie Tatum, junior wing LaDarius Brackens and senior guard Chris Jones, all returning varsity players.

In subvarsity action, the Eagles lost twice to Bullard.

The Fairfield junior varsity started well, taking a 12-8 lead the first period and holding a 22-20 advantage at intermission, before Bullard took over the contest.

Eagles cagers were out scored 9-14 the third period to give away the lead and took the fourth period 14-12, but it was a little short as they lost 45-46.

"Our guys came out and played tough the whole game," coach Jody Walker reports. "With great effort we had a chance to win the game late in the fourth quarter, but came up short."

Scoring in double digits for the Fairfield jv was Robert Durham, 12 points.

Others scoring were: Vernard Evans, 9; Dillon Burgess, 8; Cooper Vandiver, 6; Jay Brown, 3; Cody Anderson, 2; and Desmond Roberts, 2.

The FHS frosh quintet led Bullard in a low scoring first period, 2-5, but gave up 17 second period points to fall behind 12-19 at half-time.

Fairfield narrowed the lead to four points, 25-29, in the third period but could not keep pace in the final stanza, falling 33-44.

Leading the offense with 15 points was Tristan Wheeler.

Others scoring were: Josh Brown, 12; Darius Roberts, 4; and Xavier Betts, 2.

The Eagles were scheduled to play the 1-day Crandall Classic early this week and head to Whitney on Tuesday.