The Fairfield girls basketball team opened its season Friday night at home, falling to Chariton 60-34 in a matchup that saw foul trouble, shooting struggles, and a second-half surge from the Chargers.
The varsity contest started later than scheduled after the JV game went to overtime—a game Fairfield won 42-38 thanks to clutch late free throws from Ireland Cranston at the end of regulation.
Slow Start and Fouls Prove Costly
Fairfield hung close early, trailing just 12-8 after the first quarter and 25-17 at halftime. However, Chariton took control coming out of the break, outscoring the Trojans 23-6 in the third quarter to build a commanding 48-23 lead.
The Trojans were without two key players—Maddy Martin and Anna McAvan—and foul trouble made matters even tougher. Elyse Setterstrom picked up three early fouls in the first half, and eventually Setterstrom, Vanessa Kessel, and Emma Metcalf all fouled out. Fairfield finished with 23 fouls as a team compared to Chariton’s nine.
Offensive Numbers
Fairfield struggled from the field, shooting 14-for-57 overall (24.6%), 1-for-17 from beyond the arc (5.9%), and 5-of-13 at the free-throw line (38.5%). Chariton shot more efficiently, finishing 21-for-58 from the floor (36.2%), 5-for-21 from three (23.8%), and 13-of-17 at the line (76.5%).
Chariton’s scoring balance was also a major factor, with four players reaching double digits:
- Ellie Lane – 14
- Ava Krutsinger – 14
- Payton Snook – 12
- Tatum Swarthout – 11 off the bench
Trojan Statistics
Despite the loss, several Fairfield players had strong performances:
- Faith Jones: 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
- Elyse Setterstrom: 8 points, 4 rebounds (50% FG)
- Lauren Martin: 4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
- Emma Metcalf: 4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
- Vanessa Kessel: 2 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 block
- Lenora Felt: 2 points, 2 steals
- Aubrey Ryan: 1 point, 2 rebounds
- Emma Septer: 2 rebounds
Coach Witzenburg’s Reaction
Fairfield Head Coach Brian Witzenburg said after the game that while the night brought challenges, he was encouraged by the team’s effort and development potential.
“The basketball season is a journey. We will get to where we want to be, it just might take some time to get there,” he noted.
He acknowledged Chariton’s performance with their offensive ball movement to beat Fairfield’s press. Out of Fairfield’s performance, he was most impressed with Lauren Martin’s rebounding, which she led the team in.
Witzenburg was also pleased with the result of the junior varsity game.
Looking Ahead
The Trojans will look to regroup in Knoxville for their next contest and first game on the road on Tuesday, November 25th.
