For just the second time ever in program history, Fairfield continues to dance into the semi-state round of the IHSAA Boys Basketball state tournament.
Fairfield got all it could handle from Hammond Bishop Noll in the second half, but a Tyson Frey runner with 2.3 seconds left sent the Falcons to its first semi-state since 2007, winning 41-39 at the Triton Regional.
Fairfield looked like it had all but locked up the regional championship after a stunning first half that had it take a 15-point lead into the break. And despite Noll turning up the pressure in the third quarter, Fairfield still never led by less than nine heading into the fourth quarter.
That changed as Noll used nine points from Caleb Parks and held the Falcons without a point for over five minutes of the fourth. Carson Smith would hit a huge three to end the scoreless stretch, but would leave the game on the next play with a knee injury. After Noll tied the game at 39 with just over a minute remaining, Fairfield held for the final shot, to which it cleared out for Frey off the wing. Surprisingly, Frey drove to the basket unchallenged and hit a leaning one-hander for the biggest make of his career.
Frey led Fairfield with 10 points, Smith had seven points and the trio of Brooks Custer, Mitchell Miller and Brant Garber all had six points. Parks led Noll with 15 points.
Fairfield (20-6) now moves to the Logansport Semi-state, where it will play Delta (22-6) this Saturday in the second game at approximately 12 p.m. Peru (16-10) and St. Joe (18-9) play in the first game. Winners come back for an 8 p.m. championship tip.
Updating Fairfield’s second Hoosier State Relays track qualifying event last Tuesday at Trine, several athletes were top three in their events, but may still have work to do to qualify for the HSR State Finals later this month.
Marco Garcia was first in long jump at 19-1.5 and also in the 60 dash at 7.37. Jayden Riegsecker added a top pole vault of 10-6, with teammate Caleb Silliman third at 10-0, Silliman was also third in the 60 hurdles at 9.83. The 4x200 relay team of Garcia, Silliman, Waylon Herschberger and Blake Metzger timed 1:38.60 to finish second.
Jalyn Stofleth and Joya Holsopple both cleared 9-6 in pole vault to finish third and fourth, respectively, and Shelby Miller cleared 9-0 for fifth. Madelyn Culp was first in long jump at 15-1.5 with Stofleth third at 14-9.25. Culp was also tops in the 60 hurdles at 9.93 and Emma Walter was second in the 60 dash at 8.20. Jacinda Brown (29-1) and Ireland Baker (28-8) were one-two in shot put and the 4x800 relay team of Lorelei Shively, Lyla Dennis, Elli Yoder and Natalee Lambright ran a 10:52.73 to finish second.