Fairbanks’ Gatlin Luke (5) battles for a rebound on Friday against West Liberty-Salem. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Fairbanks’ hopes for an Ohio Heritage Conference North Division championship took a hit Friday evening with a 47-28 loss to West Liberty-Salem.
“This was one we really needed,” said FHS head coach Justin George.
FHS let the game get away as a result of a poor offensive showing during the second half.
The Panthers and Tigers both went into the contest with matching 8-4 records in the OHC.
The game gave the impression within the first several minutes that it wasn’t going to be an offensive explosion.
However, the opening half provided the biggest portion of Fairbanks’ point production.
Wyatte Miller got things started by drilling a three-pointer that gave FHS a 3-0 lead.
Trey Good knocked down a jumper and Gatlin Luke spun in the lane for a shot that gave the Panthers a 7-4 lead.
The Tigers caught a bit of fire and took an 8-7 edge when Jack Eggleston buried a three-ball.
Good responded with a trifecta and Luke hit a basket that gave FHS a 12-10 lead with 30 seconds to play in the first period.
West Liberty committed a turnover and the Panthers began working the clock for a last shot.
Holden Nease, however, came up with a steal and scored in transition to tie the game at 12-all by the end of the set.
Both teams continued to play decent defense for the next eight minutes.
The Tigers prevented Fairbanks post player Braylon Green from getting shots to fall, while FHS forced several WLS turnovers.
Owen Herbst of Fairbanks broke the stalemate with a shot in a lane full of traffic.
West Liberty’s Matthew Loffing, though, drilled a three-ball for a 15-14 Tiger lead.
The combatants came up with empty possessions as shots failed to drop and turnovers began to mount.
Sean Galsterer’s three-pointer with 1:28 on the timer sent Fairbanks into the break with a 17-15 lead.
Loffing swapped baskets with Miller as FHS clung to a 19-17 lead early in the third quarter.
Good later scored on a reverse baseline layup that tied the game at 21-21.
At that point, things began to sour quickly for the home team.
Nease lofted in a shot over Green’s outstretched arms.
Loffing was nifty with the three-point nylon and then converted another Panther miscue into a transition basket.
All of the sudden, Fairbanks was looking at a 30-21 deficit that the Tigers carried into the fourth period.
“The third quarter was a disaster,” said George. “Braylon missed some close shots and we just couldn’t put the ball in the basket against their defene.”
The final eight minutes of action weren’t that much better.
George didn’t have official shooting stats at his disposal after the game.
However, he guessed his squad made its 12 shots in approximately 45 attempts.
“Our field goal shooting percentage just wasn’t very good,” he said.
Luke hit a running jumper in the lane early in the final quarter to reduce FHS’ deficit to 31-23.
Travis Brake’s basket later sliced the gap to 33-25.
That, however, was as close as the Panthers got the rest of the game.
A basket by Gavin Harrison pushed the Tigers’ lead to 35-25 and the visitors began to pull away.
Green didn’t score his first points until the clock read 2:54.
He quickly picked up his fourth foul at the other end of the court as West Liberty cruised to the easy victory.
The Panthers (who are 9-9 overall) have three more OHC games left on the schedule against Northeastern, Mechanicsburg and West Jefferson.
“We have to get back to what we do best,” said George. “We’ve got to get back our scoring and not have empty possessions.
“We also shot only two free throws tonight,” said the coach, noting his team has to do more to get to the charity stripe.
Fairbanks will rapidly turn around and travel to Heath for a non-conference matinee contest today.
The Bulldogs are unbeaten at 16-0 and ranked No. 7 in the state Division II poll.
West Liberty-Salem
Loffing 5-4-16, Nease 6-1-13, McGill 3-0-6, Burden 2-1-5, Eggleston 2-0-5, Harrison 1-0-2, LeVan 0-0-0, Siegenthaler 0-0-0. Totals 19-6-47.
Three-point goals: Loffing 2, Eggleston 1.
Fairbanks
Good 3-0-7, Luke 3-0-6, Miller 2-0-5, Galsterer 1-0-3, Green 1-0-2, Herbst 1-0-2, Brake 1-0-2, Schultz 0-1-1, Higinbotham 0-0-0, Winkle 0-0-0. Totals 12-1-28.
Three-point goals: Good 1, Miller 1, Galsterer 1.