CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio -- There were about 20 minutes of intense and close basketball played tonight before a steal and old-fashioned three-point play by Fairfield Union junior Charlie Bean reversed the momentum in favor of the Falcons. That momentum reversing play helped key a 52-39 win over Circleville for a Fairfield Union team out to an early lead in the MSL-Buckeye.

During those 20 minutes, the Tigers of Circleville sat back in a zone and controlled the tempo of the game, forcing the Falcons to take the shots they wanted, and making good use of their own shot selection on the other end.

However, once Fairfield Union started forcing turnovers, they were able to get out and score in transition allowing for them to blow open the lead and keep it until the final buzzer.

Senior guard Chase Poston and senior forward Huston Harrah combined for 29 points in the win and consistently made plays on both ends of the ball all night for their team. Poston went for 17 points while dishing out five assists. Harrah scored 12 points to go along with his seven rebounds. 

Junior forward Andrew Moll added eight points and nine rebounds while junior guard Charlie Bean provided a big spark off the bench with 10 points and five rebounds. 

With the win, Fairfield Union continues their hot start to the season as they now sit at 4-0. They will look to extend their winning streak in a home MSL-Buckeye matchup against Amanda Clearcreek on Tuesday. 

For Circleville, they found most of their production from junior guard Evan Justice who poured in 19 points and five rebounds while burying 4 threes throughout the game. Despite never really getting going, one of Circleville’s other very talented guards, junior Riley Gibson, was able to add 10 points and three rebounds. 

Circleville is now 1-3 on the season and will look to bounce back strong on the road against Teays Valley on Tuesday. 

Chase Poston (6’4 G / Fairfield Union / 2020): Poston is a lengthy guard with a sweet stroke who dominated the game all night long. He showed off a bit of his range by knocking down 3 first half threes, including one a few feet behind the arc with a few seconds remaining in the first half. He also put on display his playmaking abilities and IQ for the game with his five assists. Specifically in the second half, Poston was setting up his teammates with flashy passes in transition that ended up putting Circleville away. We loved the confidence and energy that he played with on both ends of the floor, as do his teammates as they seemed to feed off of him. Look for him to continue to lead this team throughout the season and carry on the postseason success the Falcons have had in the recent past. Malone has a good one in the 6-foot-4 Poston. 

Huston Harrah (6’5 PF / Fairfield Union / 2020): The senior forward for Fairfield Union was excellent tonight and seemed to be in the right place on the floor at the right moment all game long. The offense ran through him most of the game as the Falcons looked to feed their bigs and get inside-out threes for their guards against Circleville’s zone. He displayed great ability to score in the paint and find his teammates while playing high-low from the elbow areas. Harrah made hustle plays all night on the glass and on the defensive end, which ultimately helped give his team the win. He was the blueprint to a team player tonight and is going to be a key part of Fairfield Union’s success throughout the season.

Evan Justice (6’1 G / Circleville / 2021): Despite the loss, Justice was able to catch fire and go for 19 points, including 4 three-pointers. Most of his success came in the first half before Fairfield Union began running him off the three-point line. The guard has a good feel for the game and an incredible shot, whether it be off the catch or off the dribble, he was able to find success. He was also a big help for Circleville’s defensive and rebounding effort tonight, making plays that kept the Tigers in the game before they ultimately couldn’t keep up. While not having a lot of success finishing at the rim, Justice was able to beat his defender off the dribble and often put himself in good positions to score. We love this off-guard’s ability to play and consistent effort he gave tonight.

Riley Gibson (6’0 G / Circleville / 2021): While it was not a night Gibson will want to remember for long, he was still able to be a positive factor in spite of his struggles. The 6-foot guard has a tight handle on the ball and is very shifty when getting to the rim. He is great at creating space for his shot, and like Justice, can knock down the catch and shoot three, even with a hand up. We look forward to a positive comeback for Gibson and better performances going forward as he is clearly a talented scorer and leader for his team.