FJHS Eagles win 3 contests

Fairfield junior high school Eagles cagers won three of four basketball games last week against the Palestine Westwood Panthers.

The district games were played at Westwood.

Eighth grade A Eagles set the tone early in their victory when Bryson Gates dunked the ball to score the first two points in a winning effort.

The FJHS quintet took a 14-5 lead the first period and added 11 second period points to lead 25-11 at intermission.

Fairfield scored 14 points in the third period and nine in the fourth, giving up four and 10, to claim a 48-25 win.

“We played a very solid game. We had good defense, good rebounding, and our scoring was pretty balanced,” coach Lynn Caffey reports.

Gates led scoring with 15 points.

Also scoring were: Danny Cockerell, 8; Larry Rose, 5; Chris Lide, 5; Cade Warren, 4; Coy Pierce, 4; Byron Mireles, 3; Jacob Gallegos, 2; and Luke Rachel, 2.

Rebound leaders were Gates, Rachel, Cockerell and Lide.

“It’s really good to be able to have everyone involved in the game and everyone contributing,” Caffey says.

The eighth grade A Eagles are 12-1 on the season and are undefeated in seven district outings.

In seventh grade A action, Fairfield cagers jumped out to an 8-2 first period lead and matched that output in the second period to lead 16-3 at halftime.

The Eagles added eight points in the third period and 10 in the fourth, giving up a total of six, to win 34- 9.

“It was a great all around effort,” coach Clint Elliott says. “We played great defense all night.

“These guys just keep getting bettery every day.”

Reaching double digits with 12 points was Cam Adams.

Also scoring were: Raheim Hayes, 7; Michael Gibson, 4; Christian Lee, 3; Ryan Kuhlman, 2; Dedrick Garner, 2; Chance Carroll, 2; and Justin Morgan, 2.

The FJHS eighth grade B squad started slowly, taking a 3-2 first period lead, then blanked the Panthers in the second period to lead 12-2 at the half.

Fairfield hit for just two points in the third period and opened up for 15 in the final stanza to claim a 29-7 decision.

“We played great defense and rebounded the ball better than we have all year,” coach Michael Posey says. “Holding a team to seven points is a great accomplishment and I am very proud of these boys.”

Scoring 21 points to lead the Eagles offense was Alex Ward.

Also scoring were: Trey Adams, 3; Donald O’Brien, 2; Chris Munoz, 2; and Trenity Keeney, 1.

The only glitch of the week came in a 2-16 loss in the seventh grade B game.

Scoring the Eagles’ basket was Brandon Lucero.

“We played better, defensively, but could not find our offense,” Posey says. “These boys gave great effort and fought to the end.”

The FJHS Eagles play Crockett this Thursday at home.