FAIRFIELD SENIOR BOYS had to recover from an early tournament loss to face Madisonville and claim a Little Dribbler National Championship title. The team won the senior title in Levelland in 2009, and won a national title as major division players in 2008. Fairfield Boys’ Little Dribblers teams captured two national championships Saturday.

Playing in the American League for towns of less than 10,000 population, Fairfield all-stars teams won the major and senior division crowns.

This is the second consecutive year for a Fairfield team to win the senior title.

The national championships were played Wednesday through Saturday in Fairfield, utilizing all school gymnasiums.

Players competed in American and National leagues, for communities with less than 30,000 population, and in junior, major and senior divisions.

Junior players are ages 10 and young; majors are ages 11-12; and seniors are 13-14 years old.

FAIRFIELD MAJOR BOYS marched through the Little Dribblers National Championship tournament without a hitch to win the title game Saturday against Brownfield. The national tourney was played Wednesday-Saturday in Fairfield. More than 800 players competed in the 40th annual Little Dribblers National Championship tournament.

Fairfield seniors had a long road to the title game, after losing a third round matchup to Crockett.

The seniors opened with a win over Kermit and defeated Brownfield before sustaining a loss that knocked them down to the losers’ bracket.

From there, the Fairfield quintet beat Cleveland and Hampshire-Fannett to win a rematch against Crockett and advance to the championship game.

The Fairfield squad won the Crockett rematch and went on to beat Madisonville 52-49 for the crown.

Last year, the seniors won a national title in Levelland, and in 2008 the same group of players won in the major bracket, making three championships in a row.

FAIRFIELD SENIOR DIVISION player Chris Lide fights for a rebound in the tournament opener against Kermit. Members of the senior team claimed their third national Little Dribblers championship crown. Members of the team are James Adams, Daniel Cockerell, Keishaun Cunningham, Jacob Gallegos, Bryson Gates, Michael Hudson, Chris Lide, Byron Mireles, Larry Rose, Demarcus Taylor and Cade Warren.

The team was coached by Ren Roberts, assisted by Chad Cunningham.

Fairfield major players marched through the competition without a loss to face Brownfield for the championship and claim the title.

The quintet opened with a win over Kountz, then defeated Gulf Coast, Crockett and Brownfield en route to the title tilt.

Members of the junior team are Zachary Barlow, Dominic Brackens, Geonta Cotton, Cameron Hicks, Cade Hill, Jalyn Jackson, Noah Mireles, Charles Oliver, David Ransom, Jr., Elija Ransom, Terrance Rischer, Jr., and Caleb Scires.

JUNIOR DIVISION PLAYER Jaise Oliver goes in for a layup as teammate Nick Knight comes up for assistance. The team was coached by Donald Brackens, assisted by Eric Jackson and Shana Mireles.

After losing an opening game to Crockett, the Fairfield juniors started battling back through the losers’ bracket but came up short.

The juniors beat Crockett, Palestine Westwood and Monahans before bowing out of the tournament against Brownsboro.

Members of the junior team are: Kolby Adams, Keshun Crenshaw, Devin Cunningham, Gregory Gibson, Marcus Hayes, Jar’Mychael Hudson, Nick Knight, Levatus Mikell, Jaise Oliver, John Owens, Blake Posey and Jailyn Ransom.

The juniors were coached by Clifford Taylor, assisted by Kayla Adams and David Knight.

MAJOR DIVISION PLAYER Geonta Cotton flies high for a basket in Little Dribblers National Championship action against Kountz. The Fairfield team claimed a national title. Over the years, Fairfield Little Dribblers have amassed a record of 13 national championships, three at the junior level, seven at the major level and three at the senior level.

In the National League, Bryan won the junior division over Silsbee, Navasota claimed the major crown over Jacksonville and Tyler won the senior title over Jacksonville.

A second national tournament, for girls, will be played June 9-12 in Fairfield and also features American and National leagues.

Teams from Fairfield have won eight national championships over the years.