WINNSBORO – The Fairfield Centrals Griffins’ rough season came to an end Thursday at home against the Indian Land Warriors. Fairfield fought tooth and nail to keep the game close in the first half, but Indian Land pulled away late for a 69-56 win. After the loss, the Griffins finished the regular season with a 0-18 record.
Senior Zack Sease (2) adds another highlight to his collection in his last game as a Griffin. | Joe Seibles
“It’s a learning lesson,” Griffins’ head coach Brian Sanders said. “Honestly we got closer as a team. I wanted more out of my seniors, but I got a good point guard coming back. He’s gonna be in the eighth grade. I’ve got some ninth graders, some junior and sophomores. I feel comfortable coming in this summer.”
Indian Land opened the game up with a 5-0 run and jumped out to a 16-10 first quarter lead. The Warriors had another strong offensive showing in the second quarter, but Fairfield’s offense did everything they could to stay close.
Quay McBride and Jalen Mazyck had four points apiece in the second. Also in the second, Zack Sease, Ladeveaux Ashford and Montravious White all hit from long range in attempts to keep the Griffins within striking distance. They only trailed by seven at halftime.
Indian Land blew the doors off of the Griffins’ defense in the third quarter and put the hopes of a late come back to bed. The Warriors racked up 23 points in the third, including 14 from Jerrick Palmer. The Griffins were behind 57-37 after three.
“We tend to come in the first half and play good then we tend to go down in the second half,” Sanders said. “Sometimes I get confused. These guys work really hard, it’s just now we got to start back over fresh with the young guys we got.
ILHS – 16-18-23-12 – 69
FCHS – 10-17-10-19 – 56
ILHS– Jerrick Palmer – 24, Destin Clark – 22, Douglas Tutt – 9, Tai Gilbert – 6, Donovan White – 5, Tre Thompson – 3.
FCHS – Quay McBride – 14, Zack Sease – 12, Ladeveaux Ashford – 12, Jalen Mazyck – 8, Montravious White – 6, Elijah Hunter – 4.