SAN ANTONIO — The Fayetteville High School Lions basketball team was defeated by Valley High School in the UIL State Championship game March 12 at the Alamodome in San Antonio by a final score of 66-48. After jumping out to an early lead in the first quar ter and making it close throughout the quarter, Val ley stormed back and and took control of the game for the rest of it’s entirety with shot making and close range baskets en route to the win.
“I thought we had a good game plan coming in," said Fayetteville head boy’s basketball coach Jake Diggs. “Every time we got them in trouble, they would just throw it up real high and one of them giants would get it. We just couldn’t keep them off the glass. I’m really proud of the guys for the fight that they showed."
Lions senior guard Mason Fenhaus had an outstanding season scoring and handling the point guard position while coming up with some big shots throughout the playoffs to help keep his team’s season alive.
“We started off a bit hot," Fenhaus said. "Went cold in the second quarter.
They kept hitting shots. Our defense had some mental lapses and they just kept putting it on."
Fayetteville took a 4-0 lead to start the first quarter with a three-pointer from senior Jack Schley and a free throw from Fenhaus,
then both teams went back and forth throughout the rest of the quarter with short
baskets and shot making to put it at 13-11 in favor of Valley at the end of the first
quarter.
Valley started off hot in the second quarter and
scored 11 unanswered
points with a few layups, a jumper, and a three-pointer to take a 24-11 lead at the 3:50 mark. Fenhaus responded with a couple bas- kets for Fayetteville, which led to an and one layup from the Patriots as well as a free throw to make it 3015 at halftime.
The Lions were able to keep it reasonably close ear- ly in the third quarter with a three-pointer and a floater from senior Kasen Kocian, then Valley stretched their lead even more with a few three pointers and a dunk at the one minute mark to take a 47-30 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Valley didn’t let up in the fourth quarter and kept their big lead with a bunch of layups and more defense to win 66-48.
Fayetteville senior Kasen Kocian, 3, makes a drive to the basket against Valley High School at the UIL State Basketball Champship game March 12 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Banner Press photo by Brian Pierson
Fayetteville Lions UIL State Basketbell game against Valley High School March 12 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Banner Press photo by Brian Pierson
