Kettering Fairmont girls’ basketball team rebounds with two straight victories

Kettering, Ohio – The Kettering Fairmont Firebirds girls’ basketball team ended last week with their first loss of the season when they fell to Springboro 48-45. This week the lady Firebirds had two opportunities to rebound from that tight disappointing loss.

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First, Wednesday, December 8, 2021, the Firebirds hosted the Springfield Wildcats. The two teams opened with a low scoring tight 1st
quarter in which Fairmont outscored the Wildcats 7-6. But in Firebirds started taking control of the game in the 2nd quarter when they outscored Springfield by 10 points 20-10. That gave Fairmont an 11 point 27-16 lead at half-time.

After the half, Kettering kept up the pressure by putting together a solid 3rd quarter outscoring the Wildcats by 11 24-13. That gave the Firebirds a virtually insurmountable 51-29 lead to start the 4th
quarter. The lady Firebirds kept the pressure on in the 4th quarter outscoring the Wildcats 14-6 to secure a nice 30 point rebound win 65-35.

The Firebirds had two players score in double digits. Senior Guard #15 Mallory Hullinger was the leading scorer with 24 points. Hullinger was 8 for 18 from the field and 4 for 7 from 3 point range. She was also 4 for 6 from the free-throw line. Hullinger also had 10 steals 3 rebounds, 2 defensive and 1 offensive, and 1 assist.

Senior Guard #21 Peyton Wells also contributed 12 points. Wells was 4 for 10 from the field and 0 for 1 from 3 point range. She also hit 4 of 7 free-throw attempts and contributed 5 assists, 4 steals, 3 rebounds, 2 defensive and 1 offensive, and 1 block.

Junior Forward #10 Serena Baker tacked on 9 points, while Senior Guard #12 Mari Carter added 7 points, and Sophomore Guard #14 Kenzie Roark contributed 6 points. The remainder of Fairmont’s offensive production came from bench players Senior Guard #4 Avi Hawkins, Junior Guard #42 Cierra Hupke, Freshman Guard #1 Tessa Hutchison, and Junior Forward #30 O’Malley Quinlan.

As a team, the Firebirds shot 44.6% (25 for 56) from the floor, 46.25% (6 for 13) from 3 point range, and 50.0% (9 for 18) from the free-throw line. Kettering also had 27 rebounds, 17 defensive and 10 offensive, 27 steals, 18 assists, and 3 blocks.

Then Saturday, December 11, Fairmont traveled to Miamisburg to take on the Vikings. Fairmont opened the game by outscoring the Vikings in the 1st quarter 11-8. Miamisburg then fought back to outscore the Firebirds in the 2nd quarter 12-10. This gave Kettering a slim 1 point half-time lead 21-20.

The Firebirds expanded their slim lead in the 3rd
quarter by outscoring Miamisburg 18-16. With the score 39-36, Fairmont took a slim 3 point lead into the 4th quarter. In the 4th, Kettering finished off the game by outscoring the Vikings 22-16. This gave the Firebirds a 61-52 win to go 5-1 on the season.

All 61 of the Firebirds’ points came from their 5 starters. Kettering had 4 starters reach double figures for the night. With 17 points Baker was Fairmont’s leading scorer. She was 6 of 12 from the field and 0 for 1 from 3 point range. Baker also hit 5 of 8 free-throw attempts. She also contributed 5 rebounds, 4 defensive and 1 offensive, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block.

Hullinger was the Firebirds’ second highest scorer with 15 points. She hit 3 of 9 from the field and 1 of 2 from 3 point range. Hullinger was also perfect from the free-throw line hitting 8. She tacked on 5 rebounds, 4 defensive and 1 offensive, and 3 steals.

Wells also sank 14 points on the night. She was 4 of 8 from the field and 2 of 3 from 3 point range. Wells also made 4 of 6 free-throws and contributed 5 rebounds, 3 offensive and 2 defensive, 1 steal, and 1 assist.

Roark rounded out the double digit scorers with 10 points. Roark was 2 for 8 from the field, 1 of 1 from 3 point range, and 5 of 8 from the free-throw line. Roark grabbed 4 of the boards, 3 offensive and 1 defensive, and added 4 steals, 1 block, and 1 assist.

Kettering’s final 5 points came from Carter who was 2 of 3 from the field, 1 of 1 from 3 point range, and 0 for 2 from the free-throw line. Carter also contributed 9 assists, 5 defensive rebounds, and 2 steals.

As a team, the Firebirds shot 42.55 (17 of 40) from the field, 62.5% (5 of 8) from 3 point range, and 68.85% (22 of 32) from the free-throw line. The lady Firebirds grabbed 26 rebounds, 17 defensive and 9 offensive. They also had 12 assists, 11 steals, and 2 blocks.

Fairmont plays the 6-1 Centerville Elks on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at 7:30. The Elks' only loss came against Westfield High School in the Sneakers for Santa Shootout in Indiana. The Elks lost to Westfield 60-51. Centerville has beaten New Albany 47-46, Ponitz, 69-33, Springfield 58-35, Miamisburg 45-41, Beavercreek 48-45, and Northmont 65-26. The Fairmont v. Centerville game will be played at Fairmont’s Trent Arena, 3301 Shroyer Road, Kettering. Tickets are $5 for seniors and students (ID may be required) and $7 for adults. Tickets can be purchased online at https://events.ticketspicket.com/agency/5292c4d7-0074-4d06-ad13-6a61389a8deb/events/e0c77dd4-7353-4646-b9ac-763f28e62fb0.