By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

After entering the 1A Division 1 sub-state tournament at Burrton with a first-round bye, the second-seed Centre Cougars were defeated Friday by third-seed Fairfield, 60-50, ending their season with a record of 12-10.

It was the final game of their high school basketball career for seniors Justin Deines, Kodey Johnson, Cory Brunzell, James Wyatt, and Houston Svoboda.

Deines made a field goal and a trey and Ty Simons had two baskets to give Centre a 9-3 lead midway through the first quarter. However, Fairfield answered with a 13-point run, including three consecutive treys, to lead 16-9 at the end of the quarter.

Grant Srajer made a three-pointer and Svoboda made two layups in the second quarter, joining Simons and Deines in closing the gap to four points, 27-23, at halftime.

The Cougars continued to battle in the third quarter as Deines, Brunzell, and Chad Mueller each made a trey along with two points by Simons. However, Fairfield made steady gains and led by eight points heading into the final period.

Led by Simons, the Cougars fought hard to rebound defensively and get possession of the ball. A basket by Simons with three minutes, 15 seconds remaining, brought the Cougars within three points, 47-44. This was followed, however, by a seven-point run by Fairfield.

Deines missed several layups after that but made four free throws before the game ended with a 10-point deficit for the Cougars. Svoboda made the final two points on free throws.

Simons led scoring with 19 points, followed by Deines with 16.