DeAnna Robinson

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Sports Correspondent

Both Griffins teams traveled to Cyclone territory this past Friday to challenge Chester at home. The results were mixed.

Fairfield - 36

Chester - 71

The Lady Griffins traveled to Chester this past Friday and took on the Lady Cyclones. The Lady Cyclones proved to be too much more the Lady Griffins. The final score was 71-36 .

The Lady Cyclones won the opening tip-off followed by the game’s first turnover. Moments later, the Lady Griffins gave the ball right back.

On the Lady Griffins’ next time with the ball, Nikki Craig went hard to the basket for the Lady Griffins but she was fouled on the shot. She made one of two free throw attempts.

Moments later, the home team increased their lead to 5-1. The Lady Griffins turned the ball over with 4:00 left on the clock. But on their next offensive drive, LaQuinta Guinyard nailed the jumper from the top of the key. The score was then 7-3. Within the closing minutes of the first quarter, the score was then 15-5 after another LaQuinta Guinyard jumper. With less than a minute left in the quarter, Nikki Craig made one of two free throws after being fouled on the shot. The Lady Cyclones went back down court and answered back with a basket of their own. The score at the end of the first quarter was 22-6.

The Lady Cyclones began the second quarter with a basket. The score was then 24-6. Moments later, Shateal Reynolds scored for a Lady Griffins. But the Lady Cyclones came back with a three pointer. The score was 27-8 and on their next offensive trip down court, the Lady Cyclones scored again.

Nikki Craig made her way to the basket for the Lady Griffins with a nice assist from LaQuinta Guinyard. The score was then 33-10 and 4:17 left on the clock. After LaQuinta Guinyard's jumper missed, Nikki Craig was there for the offensive rebound and put back. The Lady Cyclones answered back down court. The Lady Griffins were able to score off their inbounds play. The score was 38-14.

Before ending the second quarter, LaQuinta Guinyard went coast to coast and dished it to Nikki Craig for the basket. The score at half time was 45-16.

Nikki Craig made the basket for the Lady Griffins to begin the third quarter, the 45-18, and 7:37 left on the clock. Followed by another basket from Nikki Craig back down court for the Lady Griffins. Moments later, LaQuinta Guinyard nailed another jumper from inside the three point line. The Lady Griffins then forced a Lady Cyclones turnover and Shateal Reynolds made her way to the basket. The Lady Cyclones answered back followed by a Lady Griffins turnover. Andrea Holmes made the shot for the Lady Griffins.

In the third period, with 3:50 left on the clock, Jakeisha Crumpton went hard to the basket but missed the shot. Nikki Craig was fouled on the put back, She was able to hit one of the two attempts.

With one minute left in the quarter, the Lady Cyclones turned the ball over. The score was 55-30. Shateal Reynolds found Danielle Broome for the basket for the Lady Griffins. The score was 55-32 at the end of the third quarter.

To start the fourth quarter, the Lady Griffins turned the ball over on their inbounds play and the Lady Cyclones were able to score some With 4:44 left in the quarter, the score was 63-33. Throughout the remainder of the fourth quarter, the Lady Griffins and Lady Cyclones went back and forth turning the ball over. LaQuinta Guinyard nailed the jumper for the Lady Griffins. The score was then 69-35. Nikki Craig missed both free throw attempts after she was fouled on the shot. Minutes later, LaQuinta Guinyard found herself behind the free throw line for two. She made one of two free throw attempts.

The final score was 71-36.

Fairfield - 77

Chester - 68

The Griffins defeated cross-town rivals the Chester Cyclones in overtime 77-68.

The Griffins won the opening tip-off, but the Cyclones got on the board first. The Griffins soon answered back after Marquis Robinson's shot, which was followed by a Kendrick Anderson jumper with 6:00 left on the clock. With 5:05 left on the clock, Marquis Robinson was in the right place at the right time but he was fouled on the put back. He made one of two free throws. Then on the Griffins next offensive drive, Anthony Craig nailed the jumper from the top of the key. Close to the end of the first quarter, the Griffins led 9-2. TWith less than a minute left in the quarter, Anthony Craig had to earn his points from behind the free throw line. He made one of two attempts. The score at the end of the first quarter was 19-10.

To start off the second quarter, McKendrix Thompson nailed the jumper from down town for the Griffins. This was followed by a Cyclones turnover.

Later on in the quarter, both teams increased their scores. Michael Trapp found Marquis Robinson down low for the lay up. The score was 31-16. The Griffins then forced a turnover, and Marquis Robinson slam dunked the ball for the Griffins. Then moments later, Kendrick Anderson slammed the ball down for the Griffins. With less than a minute left in the quarter, the score was 35-18. After turning the ball over once again, Kendrick Anderson made his second slam dunk of the night and the Griffins crowd went crazy. The score at half time was 37-18.

The Griffins turned the ball over to begin the third quarter. With 6:16 left on the clock, Dominique Weldon went hard to the basket for the shot. The Griffins increased their lead to 43-24, but a Cyclone three-pointer minutes later cut the lead to 43-34. McKendrix Thompson nailed another jumper from down town for the Griffins, and a few moments later Kendrick Anderson nailed another jumper just inside the three point line. And then on the Griffins next offensive fast break, Kendrick Anderson slammed it for his third dunk of the night. the Cyclones went back down court and scored once again. The Cyclones scored again and so did the Griffins, on a Dominique Weldon basket. At the end of the third quarter, the score was 56-52.

The Cyclones began the fourth quarter with a basket, making the score was 56-54. The Griffins regained a slim lead after the player made both free throw attempts. And with 5:40 left on the clock, the score was 58-56. Dominique Weldon found Kendrick Anderson down low for the basket.

Minutes later, the Cyclones answered back, cutting the lead to 67-60. With 1:05 left in the game, the score was 67-65. The Griffins and the Cyclones ended regulation with the score tied at 67-67.

The Griffins scored first to began overtime. This was followed by a Cyclones turnover. And this was followed by a Dominique Weldon basket. With less than two minutes left on the clock, the Griffins led 73-67. Then the Cyclones player was fouled on the shot and he made one of two attempts. Anthony Craig was sent to the free throw line for two. And he made both attempts to increase the Griffins lead as the overtime period ended.