Girard 56 Fairview 50

This game epitomizes the reason Skinny and I do this web site. I was told by a very nice Fairview Grandmother to write nice things about the kids. Not to worry, it is all good. In front of a packed house Girard won the tip but it was Fairview's Tyler Sargent that got on the board first with a bucket in the paint. Girard quickly tied it at 2-2 with a bucket by Coltin Ferrick. Sargent made two free throws to put Fairview up by two again but it did not last long as Mike Droll hit a long range 3 to put Girard up 5-4. Girard scored six more points to finish out the first quarter 11-4 by holding Fairview scoreless the final 5:57.

There are a few pictures of the game posted here: http://www.bigskinnyonline.com/Girard%20Vs%20Fairview.htm

Girard opened the second quarter with some very crisp ball movement but again Fairview was the first to score at the 6:47 mark with a foul shot by Justin Haney. This was Justin's first action since being injured in the Tigers last football game. He played well by scoring all five of his points in this quarter bringing his team back to within two at 11-9 with 4:30 left in the frame. Yellow Jackets Ferrick then put them back up by four 13-9 with a strong move under the basket. Whew, I could hardly keep up but buckets by Gary Corbin and Brooks Lankowski's coast to coast effort knotted it up at 13 with 3:40 remaining in the half. The half concluded with the teams exchanging buckets and Fairview gaining a two point advantage 19-17.

The third quarter saw Fairview build a 10 point lead 29-19 with 4:15 to go in the frame on strong play by Sargent who hit a couple 3's and scored 11 of his 20 points in this quarter. Three pointers by Andrew Rickard and Jeff McDonald closed the gap to five with the score Fairview 34 Girard 29 at the end of the quarter.

This is the point in the game, start of the final frame, that last year's outstanding freshman became this year's Sophomore Phenom. Andrew Rickard is truly an amazing young athlete. After both teams starting slowly, Andrew stole the ball and while falling out of bounds saved the possession by tossing the ball to a teammate. It was as though Rickard said enough of this and took the team on his shoulders and would not be denied. At the 5:09 mark he hit a three to tie the score 36-36. Sargent answered with a three of his own to regain the lead at 39-36. Girard's Ferrick added two free throws to pull within one but that was followed by another coast to coast job by Lankowski who by the way I was very impressed with. With Fairview ahead 41-38 and 3:10 to go in the game, guess who hit another three to tie it up. That's right, number 15 in your program, Andrew Rickard. That three was followed by a three from Yellow Jackets Brett Smith at 2:27 to give them a lead that they would not relinquish 44-41. Girard's Droll then found himself wide open underneath for two to give them a 46-41 lead. At this point Fairview would score and then foul. The only problem is, guess who Coach Mayes made sure the inbounds pass went to. Right again, Andrew Rickard! He proceeded to make 8 of 8 from the line and none of those even touched the rim, swish, swish, swish. Final score Girard 56 Fairview 50

Girard Box: Smith 1 1-1 5, Rickard 7 8-8 25, Ferrick 7 2-4 16, Droll 2 0-0 5, McDonald 1 0-1 3

Fairview Box: Lankowski 5 0-0 10, Haney 2 1-2 5, Corbin 1 0-0 2, Patton 1 0-0 3, Glecos 4 2-2 10, Sargent 7 4-7 20

BigSkinny Player of The Game - Andrew Rickard (I should have made you guess)

Observations: Both of these teams are very good and played with great emotion. They are extremely well coached. There were several times this evening where there were no points scored for long stretches and it wasn't because of poor shooting. The defense was really good.

I was expecting Fairview's Tyler Sargent to be good and he did not disappoint. I was also very impressed with the Tigers Brooks Lankowski. He brings the team a lot of energy and I loved to watch him get a rebound and do the coast to coast thing.

For Girard, Coltin Ferrick plays way bigger than he is. He had a great game with 16 points. Mike Droll has a nice stroke from beyond the 3 line. Let me see, am I missing anyone, oh yeah, Andrew. My own basketball skills have diminished over the years to the point that all I can still do is box out. But, I think Andrew and I could beat anyone in a 2 on 2 contest. (Don't laugh, the older I get, the better I used to be.) Seriously, for a Sophomore, he is a phenom and his family can be very proud of him.

It was great meeting some of the folks with kids playing, I really enjoyed myself this evening and I didn't even have a hot dog. I'm slipping.

I can be reached at big@bigskinnyonline.com