Green stuns Fairfield, wins first district title since 1997

Carson Francis, Contributor

Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.

ATHENS — A historic season for the Green Bobcats became that much more special on Thursday night.

After claiming an outright SOC I championship, the Bobcats proceeded to add a sectional banner to their season as well. Now, they have district crown to go alongside those two feats.

Behind an all-around team effort and making big plays when it needed to the most, Green (20-5) shocked Division IV’s No. 2 ranked team, Leesburg Fairfield’s, ending the Lions undefeated campaign by a 43-38 final at Ohio University.

“I can’t say enough about the school and community support that we’ve had,” Green head coach JD King said after the game. “Franklin Furnace is a special place and I’m glad we’re able to add to it.”

The Bobcats took advantage of Fairfield’s shooting struggles in the first quarter as the Lions only tallied two field goals in the first eight minutes. Gabe McBee and Levi Sampson combined for all of Green’s 11 points, leading to an 11-4 lead heading into the second.

While the Lions (24-1) shot a less than ideal 22 percent from the field in the first half, they were able to contain the Bobcats in the second, holding them to just six points while cutting the deficit to five at halftime, 17-12. 

“We worked on not forcing shots and keeping the ball moving,” Sampson said. “We thought about passing up good shots for great shots. We just kept working the ball around and scored.”

Fairfield came into the game undefeated for a reason, and it quickly showed why to start the second half.

Slowly but surely, the Lions clawed their way back into the game. Late in the third, Fairfield found itself trailing by two. When Larkin Friend drove to the basket and scored, it tied the game at 23-23.

The deadlock would remain heading into the fourth at 25-25.

With a chance to pull away and keep their undefeated season alive, the Lions needed a huge start to the final eight minutes.

Enter Gunnar Bennington, who buried a 3 to start the quarter, giving the Lions a 28-25 lead — their first since the opening quarter.

However, after the two exchanged baskets, Green provided an answer. Gabe McBee connected on his own 3-ball, putting the Bobcats back on top with 5:24 left in the game.

They never looked back.

“I knew I had to be aggressive tonight,” McBee, who finished with a game-high 14 points, said. “They were trying to minimize Sampson’s touches, so I had to be aggressive and get to the basket.”

“[Gabe] has been phenomenal. Every chance I’ve had, I’ve praised him,” King said. “He does it game after game and he’s a kid that any coach dreams of having.” 

With the game tied 33-33 at the 3:58 mark, Sampson and Levi Blevins scored on back-to-back possessions from inside to put Green up by four points. Then, with 2:19 left to play, Sampson scored in transition to extend the lead to six at 39-33.

Green grinded out the remaining time left, and with 42.4 seconds to play, Sampson knocked down two free throws to put the game, and win, on ice, sealing a 43-38 victory.

“We’ve talked all year long about guys accepting their roles,” King said. “It seems like every big game we’ve had, guys will step up and hit big shots for us.”

The Bobcats were led in scoring by Gabe McBee, who had 14 points. Sampson followed with 10 points alongside eight rebounds and Blevins also helped with eight points.

For Fairfield, Bennington led the way with 12 points while Friend finished with nine points and 13 rebounds.

The Bobcats will come back to the Convocation Center at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night, where they will face the winner of Westerville Northside Christian and Newark Catholic in a Division IV regional semifinal.

“It was amazing to come out here and [win],” Gabe McBee said. “Green hasn’t won a district in a long time, so it feels great for us to do it.”

BOX SCORE

Green: 11-8-6-18 — 43

Fairfield: 4-8-13-13 — 38

Green: 15-34 FG, 6-11 FT, 5-10 3pt., 21 rebounds (Sampson 8), 11 turnovers, 6 assists (Sampson 2). Scoring: G. McBee 14, Sampson 10, Blevins 8, A. McBee 6, Waddell 3, Knapp 1.

Fairfield: 13-46 FG, 6-8 FT, 4-21 3pt., 23 rebounds (Friend 12), 6 turnovers, 8 assists (Friend 4). Scoring: Bennington 12, Friend 9, Collins 8, Mootz 6, House 3.

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