12-15-09
BY JACK BULLOCK
FAIRFIELD - The Fairfield Mules overcame many shortcomings on Tuesday night in their contest against rival Hamilton County.

Coach Scott McElravy’s club shot a putrid 18-of-57 (32 percent) from the floor which included just 1-of-11 from behind the three-point line.

However this young, athletic bunch found its niche on the defensive end of the floor.

In fact a key steal in the final seconds of the second overtime session turned out to be the most important play of the game in Fairfield’s 53-51 triumph.

Five-foot-nine senior guard Bryant Simpson took the ball away from Hamilton County’s Justin Webb and then found teammate Tyler Hutcheson with a pass that resulted in a fast-break game-winning score.

Hamilton County failed to retaliate in the final seconds – missing three consecutive 3-point shots on its final trip to the offensive end.

The Mules – after opening the season with three consecutive losses – find themselves in first place at 3-0 in the Black Diamond Conference East Division and 3-4 overall.

This win is also important to Fairfield – coming on the night before the Eldorado Holiday Tournament will be seeded.

This victory should put the Mules in a good spot in the EHT.

Fairfield got a team-best 15 points from Hutcheson while Andrew Atteberry added 12.

Tim Moore and Hunter Bryan added 11 points each in the win.

“I’m not knocking my guys but we don’t have pretty players – we don’t have kids that can just fill it up. We have to just win games ugly and a lot of those games are going to be ugly,” said Fairfield head coach Scott McElravy. “We just have to win them with heart. We play good defense and have good team speed. We don’t have any overall height what so ever but I think our guys play a bit bigger than what they are height-wise. It’s a good win tonight.”

Hamilton County (2-4, 1-1 in the BDC East) was its own worst enemy on the night – committing 23 turnovers – including eight in the fourth quarter as the Foxes squandered a seven-point lead.

Justin Webb – Hamilton County’s 6-foot-2 senior forward – led all scorers with 18 points while teammates’ Clint Hopfinger and Brandon Webb added eight points apiece.

J. Webb scored five consecutive points to begin the fourth quarter as the Foxes looked ready to pick up an important conference win on the road.

His 3-pointer from the left corner with just over six minutes left followed by a Robert Rubenacker drive to the basket capped a 7-0 scoring surge that gave Ham Co. a 42-35 lead.

However the turnovers kept the Foxes from holding the advantage.

Fairfield used a 9-0 run late in the fourth quarter to take back the lead – highlighted by a three-point play by Moore and a pair of scores by Bryan.

Bryan hit a baseline shot from the left side of the floor and then took a pass from Hutcheson in the lane for a reverse lay with 1:21 left to give the Mules back the lead at 44-42.

A rebound basket by Hamilton County’s Duke Greisemer evened the score at 44.

Fairfield missed a pair of 3-point shots in the final seconds – including Atteberry’s runner from 25 feet at the buzzer after a Ham Co. turnover – leaving the two teams tied at the end of regulation.

Fairfield had a one-point lead with :17.7 remaining in the first extra session when Hutcheson was fouled.

Hamilton County head coach Curt Reed used three consecutive timeouts to try and ice Hutcheson.

The 5-foot-11 sophomore made the first attempt to extend the lead to two.

However he missed the second try and Hamilton County got the ball up court to Brandon Webb – who hit a 15-footer from near the foul line to tie the score at 48-all with :05.6 remaining.

Atteberry took an inbound pass after a Mules timeout and raced down the floor but his shot from inside the arc came up short setting up a second overtime session.

Hamilton County got its final lead of the contest on a 3-pointer from Hopfinger with a minute and a half left.

Hutcheson then hit one of two free throws to set up the final minute of the overtime.

Simpson’s eventual steal while Hamilton County was working for a final shot made winners out of the Mules.

“Simpson made a big steal for us and then made a great pass to Hutcheson,” added McElravy. “ He (Hutcheson) is a sophomore who is only going to get better for us. He plays hard all the time and he is going to be a good one I think.”

With no timeouts left – the Foxes hurried up the court but all three of their 3-point shots failed to find the mark.

Hamilton County finished the game a respectable 22-of-52 (42 percent) from the floor and out-rebounded Fairfield 33-31.

But foul troubles and the turnovers cost the Foxes in this road loss.

Fairfield was 16-of-25 from the foul line while Hamilton County was just 2-of-6 from the charity stripe.

Defenses ruled the first half that resulted in 18 total turnovers and five lead changes before halftime.
Fairfield can look forward to a home game against Vienna this Friday while the Foxes continue a road tour that will send them to Carmi-White County, Eldorado and Waltonville in the next seven days.

“We have won the games that we have needed to win in the conference so far,” added McElravy. “Our kids just love competing and we are going to get better as the year goes on. We love the Eldorado Holiday Tournament and we have had a lot of success there and we are looking forward going down there and maybe stealing a game or two.”

Hamilton County (51) – Hopfinger 1 2 0-1 8, Rubenacker 2 0 1-2 5, B. Webb 4 0 0-0 8, Irvin 0 0 0-0 0, J. Webb 7 1 1-3 18, Cravens 0 2 0-0 6, Greisemer 1 0 0-0 2, Lemmons 2 0 0-0 4.
2FG-17, 3FG-5, FT-2-6, PF-19.
Fairfield (53) – Atteberry 5 0 2-4 12, Simpson 2 0 0-0 4, Hutcheson 4 0 7-12 15, Moore 3 0 5-7 11, Bryan 3 1 2-2 11, McMeen 0 0 0-0 0, Hutson 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-17, 3FG-1, FT-16-25, PF-12.
Fouled Out – Hopfinger, B. Webb - Hamilton County.
Technical Fouls – None.