EAGLES SENIOR POST PLAYER Tevin Green grabs a rebound Friday night in a home game against the Groesbeck Goats. Green scored 17 points in the game. The Fairfield high school Eagles varsity basketball split decisions last week against the stateranked Mexia Blackcats and the Groesbeck Goats.

FHS cagers were scheduled to host Teague early this week, then start District 20-AAA competition Friday at Athens.

Except for the first period, the Eagles played even with the 19th ranked Blackcats.

“We got off to a good start and were up 10-4 early, but the first quarter ended with us behind 10- 23,” Fairfield head coach Joey Worley says.

Fairfield matched Mexia’s 18 second period points to end the half trailing 28-41, and matched points again in the third period to remain 13 points behind, 45-58.

The final stanza belonged to the Eagles, barely, 16-15 but the game ended in a 61-73 loss.

DEER HUNTER Corey Ludwick, 15, bagged this 8- point buck while hunting with grandfather Delbert Armstrong east of Fairfield. Ludwick is left-handed, but made the shot using a borrowed right-handed rifle. He is the son of Mark and Chris Ludwick. “We turned it over, gave up some easy baskets and never got within six points,” Worley says.

Poor free throw shooting hurt the Eagles as much as anything—-the team missed 16 charity tosses in the first half and were only 38 percent from the line for the game, hitting just 17 of 44 attempts.

“Free throws were a huge difference in the game. We could have kiept ourselves in the game if we made free throws,” the coach says.

Scoring 20 points for the Eagles was Tevin Green, who was joined in double digits by Dominique Owens, 15 points.

Also scoring were: LaDarius Brackens, 9; Anthony Price, 7; Willie Tatum, 7; and Evan Simpson, 3.

Price and Brackens each made a 3-pointer.

Pacing the Blackcats with 30 points was Mister Carroll.

Hosting the Goats on Friday, the Eagles took an 11-8 lead the first period and edged up to a 23-15 advantage by half-time.

The Fairfield quintet added 15 points in the third period and 19 in the fourth, giving up 10-11 to secure a 56-36 win.

Worley points out that the Eagles struggled early in the final stanza, dropping the lead to just four points at 38-34 after three turnovers. But, the Eagles outscored the Goats 18 to two in the final minutes.

“We were ahead 9-13 points most of the game and pulled away at the end,” the coach says.

Leading the offensive effort with 17 points each were Price and Green. Price scored 12 of his points in the fourth period.

Also scoring were: Brackens, 9; Owens, 7; Tatum, 4; and Simpson, 2.

The Eagles shot 57 percent from the free throw line, making 13 of 23 attempts.

Price canned one shot from long range.

In junior varsity early in the week against Mexia, the Eagles dropped a 52-35 decision.

“The loss was not due to a question of effort and hustle, because the Eagles played their hearts out all night,” coach Jody Walker says. “Our guys just had a tough go of it, trying to put the ball in the basket.”

Fairfield frosh cagers started slowly against Groesbeck, trailing 4-7 the first period, then rallied for 11 second period points to lead 15-9 at the half.

The Eagles allowed the Goats to catch up some in the third period, retaining the lead at 19-15, and added 10 points in the final stanza to win 29-23.

“We were a little rusty. We hadn’t played since Dec. 18,” coach Wilbert Hunter reports.

Reaching double digits with 10 points was Will Akers.

Also scoring were: Cooper Cole, 8; Hayden Hill, 4; Aaron Heers, 3; Derrick Coleman, 2; and Deonte Carr, 2.

The frosh shot 56 percent from the free throw line, making five of nine attempts.