Clinton opened its Valentine's Day game with 29 first quarter points to build a 20 point lead. They maintained that lead and were up by as many as 22 before Fairfield went on a fourth quarter run and cut the lead to ten. Clinton hung on from there to claim a 71-59 victory.

Fairfield opened the game with a three, but Lavadrick Glenn scored the Red Devils' first eight points to give them an early 8-4 lead. Glenn added his third three pointer to go with two from Van Nibert, to open up the inside game for Devaris Burton who scored twelve first quarter points. Those three combined for all 29 of Clinton’s first quarter points, while holding Fairfield to nine points.

With Jerome Wimphrie and Keenan Caldwell on the bench with two quick fouls each, Chris Gary stepped up his game and led Clinton with seven second quarter points. Burton added six more to his total in the quarter as the Red Devils went to the half with a 44-24 advantage.

Burton led Clinton with six of their ten third quarter points. The Red Devils extended their lead to 22 after three quarters of play 54-32.

Najahwan McKinstry, who was averaging over 20 points a game for the Griffins, came into the final stanza with only six points. He did not go away quietly, as he hit three threes and had 13 fourth quarter points as he cut into the Red Devil lead. Van Nibert hit two fourth quarter threes to go with seven more points from Burton as Clinton pulled out the win 71-59.

Clinton snatched 55 rebounds on the night, eighteen by Burton and fifteen by Gary to lead the way. Burton led the Red Devils with 31 points, while Nibert added sixteen. Glenn scored eleven first quarter points for his nightly total, and Gary added eleven off the bench for the Red Devils. Keenan Caldwell rounded out the Red Devil scoring with two points but those came off an assist off the glass from Glenn for a dunk that brought down the house.

“Best first half we have played all year, but we got lazy on defense in the second half,” was how Coach Todd Frazier assessed his team’s first round victory.

Clinton will host the second round playoff game on Friday. Tip-off against Wade Hampton, the number three seed from the Peach Blossom 3A, is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Fairfield: 9- 15- 8- 25=59

Clinton :29- 15- 10- 17=71