FAIRBORN — Vandalia Butler needed eight minutes to hand Fairborn its sixth-straight defeat.
Butler’s two 6-foot-9-inch posts combined for 36 points, and the Aviators used a second quarter run to pull away from Fairborn for a 66-47 victory Friday night at Fairborn Memorial Field House.
A.J. Pacher scored 19 points with 10 rebounds and Taylor Decker added 17 points to lead the Aviators (12-5), who used a 20-9 second quarter to beat the Skyhawks (3-14) in a game that flew by quickly.
Kendrick Williams led Fairborn with 16 points, and Jamil Huffman and Anthony Hillsman each added 11 for the Hawks.
It was Fairborn’s third-fewest points scored this season.
“[Butler] is big, and when rebounding became an important part of the game, the team who was winning the rebounds had the advantage,” said Fairborn head coach Nathan Chivington. “The refs allowed us to play a physical game, and we didn’t step up to the physical challenge.”
Three of Butler’s five losses this season have come in away games, but the Aviators used their size in the middle to give Fairborn problems all night Friday. During Butler’s second quarter run, the Aviators out-rebounded the Hawks 12-5.
“We hadn’t played well on the road up to this point, but our guys played solid offensively and defensively,” said Butler head coach Jeff Kreill. “We were concerned because Fairborn has some athletic players, but I thought we did a good job defensively on them. Kendrick Williams only having 16 points, I’m pleased with that.”
Brett Williams scored 10 points, Trey Clements and Chris Mayhill each added six points, and Sam Hershberger added nine assists with two points for Butler.
The Skyhawks fed the ball inside to the 6-foot-6-inch Hillsman in the early goings of the first quarter, and he responded with six early points to keep Fairborn close with Butler. After Hillsman’s six first quarter points, however, the Aviators adjusted defensively, and he didn’t score again until the fourth quarter.
“We threw in Connor Trentman to guard Hillsman, and he’s a very strong and quick defender. He started getting in front of some of the passes, and we were able to take that play away,” said Kreill.
The Hawks held an 18-16 lead after the first quarter, but the Aviators quickly took over in the second, using 9-of-17 shooting from the field and a 12-2 scoring run at the start of the period to take a 28-20 lead. Mayhill connected on a buzzer beater jumper to give Butler a 36-27 halftime lead.
The Skyhawks shot 4-of-12 from the field in the second quarter. Over the next two quarters Fairborn shot 8-of-25 from the field. The Hawks shot just five free throws the entire night.
“We had a couple of air balls in the second quarter, and we weren’t taking good shots,” said Chivington. “When you start playing down, panic sets in and you start doing things that aren’t within your game. We started taking shots that weren’t wise instead of working as a team to score.”
Butler, which scored 11 points off of offensive rebounds, led 49-37 after three quarters.
Fairborn is back in action hosting Lebanon on senior night next Wednesday.
