GOING GLASS … Chase Moats hit one of his two field goals for the Eagles in the third quarter. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER, STAFF)
By: Nate Calvin
PETTISVILLE – The Michigan Wolverines weren’t the only team to end a losing streak against an arch-rival on Saturday.
Fayette put three players in double figures as they snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Blackbirds 52-45 in the nonconference meeting between the two, their first win in the series since 2017.
Fayette started strong by jumping out to a 6-2 lead after an offensive rebound bucket by Kaden Frenn and an elbow jumper from Elijah Lerma.
The Blackbirds would then go on a 9-0 run to end the quarter with three-pointers from Joey Ripke and Jaret Beck during the surge.
Early in the second quarter, a Beck field goal stretched the lead to 13-8 before the Eagles used the foul line to put together a 7-2 spurt to tie the game 15-15. Fayette was 4/6 from the floor in the quarter and 4/4 at the free throw line to trail just 20-19 at halftime.
A Cayden Jacoby bucket put Pettisville ahead 24-21 in the opening minutes of the second half before Frenn, Lerma, and Chase Moats all scored during a 6-0 Eagles run to take a 27-24 advantage.
Fayette continued the hot shooting as Quinn Mitchell nailed a triple, Wyatt Mitchell had a conventional three-point play, and Frenn hit his second three pointer of the night to make it 38-30 after three quarters.
The Eagles ended the third on an 11-4 run and were 7/11 shooting to help them outscore the Blackbirds 19-10 in the quarter.
The fourth quarter was a parade to the foul line for both teams as Fayette was 8/13 and Pettisville went 7/11 as the Blackbirds were unable to cut into the Fayette lead.
The Eagles (1-0) ended the night 17/30 (57%) from the floor and 15/20 (75%) at the charity stripe while Pettisville hit 14/34 for 41% and was 15/22 (68%) at the line.
Lerma paced Fayette with 19 points, Frenn had 14, and Quinn Mitchell chipped in with 10. Beck and Jacoby each tallied 16 to top Pettisville (0-2) and Ripke added 11.
The Fulton County rivals will meet again on January 21st at Fayette in the conference matchup.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
FAYETTE 6 13 19 14 – 52
P’VILLE 11 9 10 15 – 45
Nate can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com