WINNSBORO – Saturday was truly a game of two halves as the Fairfield Central girls’ basketball team (1-1) dropped its first game of the season 40-29 to the Lady Cavaliers of Richland Northeast.
The Lady Griffins jumped out to a 9-3 lead at the end of the first quarter and held a 21-17 advantage at halftime; however, Richland Northeast (1-4), found a way to win their first game of the season by taking control of the game in the second half.
Using a 15-0 run to start the third quarter, the Lady Cavaliers captured the lead and never looked back.
At the start of the fourth quarter Fairfield trailed 32-25, but was unable to get any closer as Richland Northeast was able to answer every Griffin basket in the final frame. Fairfield never got any closer than seven points.
Fairfield’s Jameka Henderson was the catalyst for the Griffins’ first half surge as she scored 10 of her team-high 12 points, although she was held scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Richland Northeast was led by Daisha Jackson’s 18 points, which led all scorers.
Fairfield Central faltered at the free throw line as they left 17 points unredeemed, shooting just 10 of 27 at the charity stripe.
The Lady Griffins had a chance at redemption Thursday night when they traveled to Columbia to again play Richland Northeast. Scores were unavailable at press time. Fairfield’s next home game will be on Saturday against Great Falls. The Lady Griffins defeated Great Falls earlier this season by a score of 54-26.
RNE 40, Fairfield Central 29
RNE: 3-14-15-8 – 40
FC: 9-12-4-4 – 29
Individual scoring – Fairfield Central: Jameka Henderson 12, Nyashia Crumblin 2, Tanise Davis 4, Tamisha Woodard 3, Patrice Jeter 6, Carissa Alston 2. Richland Northeast: Sydney Reed 5, Maleisha Taylor 6, Catherine Lippert 4, Uriah Huffman 3, Daisha Jackson 18, Cortazia Windley 4.