Carter Schultz (12) of Fairbanks goes up for a shot as Ayden Spriggs of Triad attempts to block the effort. Schutlz tallied five points during the Panthers’ 45-26 win over the Cardinals. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
The Triad boys basketball team jumped out to an early lead against Ohio Heritage Conference opponent Fairbanks on Tuesday.
However, solid bench play gave FHS (8-5) the lift it needed for a 45-26 victory.
Triad showed off its guard-heavy lineup, using speed to jump out to a 10-3 margin.
A timeout, though, was all Fairbanks needed to regroup and find its offense.
Panther coach Justin George said his team just needed to refocus.
“It was just finally playing aggressively,” he said. “We got some baskets we couldn’t get before.”
The quick talk seemed to help as the Panthers went on 6-0 run in the final two minutes of the first quarter.
That sliced Triad’s lead to 10-9.
The second quarter is where the Panthers started to stretch their lead.
Grant Rausch came off the bench and picked up six points.
Braylon Green found space in the low post to pick up five.
George said the lift off the bench is what his team needed to help Fairbanks take a 22-18 halftime edge.
“Grant helped spark us,” he said. “He had 10 points in the first half, which was much needed.
“The second quarter hasn’t been good to us this year,” he said. “To get 13 points in the period was big.”
The Cardinals held on through the second set, thanks in part to a three-ball by Batai Lease.
Ayden Spriggs converted a few solid drives to pick up three in the quarter as well.
However, the offensive looks were few and far between for the Cardinals.
“I knew it was going to be really tough for us to score,” said Triad coach Jason Malone. “They (Fairbanks) give up only 32 points per game for a reason.
“They are very sound defensively, so I told our guys we are going to have to be efficient.”
That efficiency eroded in the second half as Triad struggled to convert.
The Cardinals tallied only four points in the third quarter with baskets from Jalen Nott and Carson Manley.
FHS’ Andy Higinbotham scored four points off the bench.
Green continued to work the boards for four points.
Carter Schultz tickled the twine for a pair of baskets to help lift Fairbanks to a 34-22 lead after three sets.
George said the Panthers played better team ball, especially Green who at times had been double and triple-teamed.
“Braylon did a good job of finding open teammates,” George said. “He has to when he has three or four guys around him.
“That’s what happened in the second half,” he said. “We were distributing better and not being selfish with the ball.”
Malone said he tried to play to his team’s strengths by running five guards on the floor.
It just didn’t pan out for the Cardinals.
“We went with five guards and tried to spread it out,” he said. “We couldn’t create anything.
“Our movement, focus and spacing were bad.”
The Panthers held the Cardinals in check during the final stanza, as Triad tallied four points.
Fairbanks continued to pass the ball around to find open looks,
Trey Good nailed FHS’ lone trifecta during the set.
The Panthers tallied 11 points in the quarter to seal the win and bring their OHC record to 5-4.
Triad now sits at 1-12 for the season. The Cardinals are scheduled to return to action with an OHC contest against Mechanicsburg on Friday.
The Panthers will play at West Liberty the same night.
Fairbanks
Green 5-4-14, Rausch 5-0-10, Higinbotham 4-0-8, Good 2-0-5, Schultz 2-1-5, Wilson 1-1-3. Totals: 19-6-45.
Three-point goals: Good 1
Triad
Lease 3-0-7, Manley 3-0-6, Spriggs 2-1-5, Campbell 1-2-4, Nott 2-0-4. Totals: 11-3-26.
Three-point goals: Lease 1