CARMI — Landon Zurliene hit two free throws with 5.6 seconds left to give Fairfield a 48-47 win over Mt. Carmel and the Carmi-White County Invitational championship.
The Mules could not celebrate through until freshman Gage Kennard’s potential game-winning shot rimmed out at the buzzer.
Fairfield finished 5-0 for the week, while the Aces went 3-2. Had Mt. Carmel won, there would’ve been a three-way tie for the top spot with the Mules, Aces, and Harrisburg Bulldogs.
Fairfield had 44-40 lead in the fourth, only to watch Mt. Carmel rattle off the next seven points. Kaleb Applebey did much of the damage. He finished with 23 points and 17 rebounds.
Fairfield cut it to one on Wyatt Gilbert’s basket. A steal and a Mt. Carmel foul sent Zurliene to the line, where he calmly made both.
Zurliene and Gilbert both scored 11 to lead Fairfield. Beau Stipp added 17 for Mt. Carmel.