CARROLL – As it usually is whenever Fairfield Union and Bloom-Carroll face off against each other, the game is highly contested and physical, and that’s just the way the Falcons’ Keaton Webb likes it.
Webb, a 6-foot-4 junior, has a high motor and isn’t afraid to mix it up. Not known for his scoring, Webb was the difference against the Bulldogs as he muscled his way for a game-high 16 points and 11 rebounds. He scored the Falcons’ final six points to spark a run to end the first half, which enabled Fairfield Union to gain some separation and take a 10-point halftime lead.
Webb also scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to keep the Bulldogs at bay, which enabled the Falcons to pull away for a 54-44 Mid-State League-Buckeye Division win at Tom Petty Gymnasium on Monday, Feb. 2.
It was a big, league road win for the Falcons, who have now won seven of the last eight games, and it enabled them to remain in a tie for first place in the league with Circleville. Fairfield Union improved to 11-3 overall and 6-1 in the league, while the Bulldogs slipped to 8-8 overall and 4-4 in the MSL.
It marks the beginning of a busy week for the Falcons, who will play four games in six days. They travel to Philo on Feb. 4, host Amanda-Clearcreek on Feb. 5, before hosting the Tigers on Feb. 7 with potentially first place in the league on the line.
Fairfield Union’s defense was huge in the second and third quarters as it held the Bulldogs to just 4 of 13 shooting in the second quarter and 3-for-15 in the fourth.
“We focus a lot on defense, a lot, and we have bought into playing solid defense for four quarters, and it’s the reason we have started to pile up wins,” Webb said. “The coaches do a great job on our scouting reports, and we do a great job executing. When you are dead tired in the fourth quarter, you have to have that will to keep going, and that was the mindset tonight.
“As far as my role, I’m the guy who does all the dirty work. I understand that my role is not to be the top scorer. Some nights I focus on defense, other nights I will be more aggressive on offense, but I felt like I had a mismatch tonight. I think I thrive when the game is physical, and if they want to be physical, I love it and feel like I have an edge when the game is played that way.”
Faifield Union coach John Helber wasn’t surprised by Webb’s performance.
“Keaton doesn’t have that off switch, and he is go-go all the time,” Helber said. “He hits the boards hard and finishes so strongly around the basket, and he just works so hard when he’s out there.”
The Bulldogs held an 11-7 edge in the early going as four different players scored, but the Falcons ended the first quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 12-11 lead into the second quarter.
Bloom-Carroll scored the first points of the second quarter to take the lead for the last time. The Falcons responded with a 9-0 run, and after the Bulldogs cut the margin to 23-20, Webb stepped up by scoring inside and went 4-for-4 at the free throw line to help Fairfield Union take a 31-21 halftime lead.
The Falcons led 43-35 heading into the fourth quarter, and then its defense took over by holding the Bulldogs to only two points in the first seven minutes of the quarter.
“Defense is something we work very hard on, and we want to play physical,” Helber said. “The kids are finally starting to believe in our defense, and we are good on defense right now. These kids communicate on defense, and they are so connected as a group. They want to play for each other, and they believe in each other.”
The Falcons had a balanced attack. Asa Kline finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, Dean Clark had 10 points, four rebounds and two assists, Trevor Utzinger added eight points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Drake DeFazio chipped in six points.
Caleb Hinkel led the Bulldogs with 14 points and four assists, and Maddox Byler added 13 points and nine rebounds.
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X at twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Fairfield Union basketball stymies Bloom-Carroll, keeps pace in MSL
Reporting by Tom Wilson, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette / Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
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