MADISONVILLE - There was a lot in common between the Fairfield and Teague boys basketball teams.
Both teams were swept by District triple-champions Franklin, Mexia and Westwood; and both teams split with Groesbeck. The Eagles and Lions even split the series between each other.
But, being in a fourth-place tie for the playoff berth associated with that spot, something had to give last Friday. Three different players scored in double figures for Fairfield during a 6241 victory against Teague Friday night in Madisonville in a fourth place playoff play-in game.
“We didn’t execute the way we planned and we were down a man, but that’s the way basketball goes,” Teague coach Shaun Moore said.
With the win, the Eagles advanced to the Class 3A state playoffs and faced Lorena Tuesday night in the bi-district round. The Lions finished the season 10-14.
Teague was without the services of Jehmel Rice, who was one of the Lions’ leaders in scoring, rebounding and assists. He was out with an undisclosed medical issue.
“They were missing their best player, and anybody who is missing their No. 1 guy is going to be a little bit different,” Fairfield coach Donte Wilson said. “If I’m being honest, them not having their best guy makes a difference.”
The Eagles established momentum early with a 25-15 run in the first quarter. Kohl Collins had 8 points in the frame, while Jy’den Canady had 7, and Davonte Alexander and Pierre Algood each had 5.
Brayden Leija knocked down a pair of 3-pointers for Teague in the opening frame. Nick Barrentine also had a 3-pointer for the Lions.
Fairfield outscored Teague, 9-7, in the second quarter to take a 34-22 lead at halftime. Alexander had 5 points in the frame.
The Eagles outscored the Lions, 10-7, in the third quarter to increase their lead to 44-29. Collins had 7 points for Fairfield in the frame, while Clifford Coleman had 5 for Teague.
Jkybryen Harris had 7 points for the Lions in the fourth quarter, but Alexander and Eli Owen each had 6 for the Eagles, who finished the game on an 18-12 run. Harris was Teague’s leading scorer with 10 points and Leija also had 9. Leading the way for Fairfield was Collins with 21 points. Alexander (16 points) and Canady (14 points) also scored in double figures for the Eagles.
“Our character showed and we battled to the very end,” Moore said. “Hats off to Fairfield. They came out and executed. Congratulations to them.”
Rice was one of six seniors who saw his high school basketball career come to a close last Friday. The others were Barrentine, Junior Bond, Ke’Mauri Evans, Joshua Owens and Tylin Randle.
“I’m going to miss every one of my six seniors,” Moore said. “I was with them throughout their whole basketball career. I’m going to miss them and I’m very proud of each one of them. Some of them have a chance to play at the next level and I’m going to help them in any way that I can. I want to see them play on the collegiate level and that’s something that not everybody gets to do.”
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