SoutheasternOhioPreps.com

I am not sure that I've ever posted on this forum before but I witnessed a performance last night that I felt should be shared here. Fairland played Portsmouth in a classic OVC matchup. What made this a memorable night was the performance of one Cliff Fransen. This young man was on fire while leading FHS to a 92-70 win over the Trojans. His stat line was 37pts, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. I've watched a lot of basketball in the Carl York Center gym at Fairland. Cliff's performance last night ranks right up there with some of the best overall games I've ever seen a Fairland player put up.

Portsmouth had no answer for him inside. The Trojans will struggle against teams that have a good big that can score inside.

Hoopster98 wrote: Tue Dec 23, 2025 9:47 am Portsmouth had no answer for him inside. The Trojans will struggle against teams that have a good big that can score inside.

Yep, sadly it’s been that way since about 2012. They have a had a few kids maybe around 6’4 or 6’5 in the years since but 170 soaking wet, not true post players. Several years they’ve trotted out kids around 6’3 to play down low. Real shame.

I was expecting a better game actually. Fransen was on fire for sure

Not only did Fransen have a huge night, but Fairland continued its mastery over the Trojans since PHS joined the OVC in 2015. The Dragons have now won 19 of 23 conference games between the two schools, with the average margin of victory by Fairland being 15.7. Seven times the margin of victory has been above 20 points. Portsmouth had a better winning pct. (39%) vs. the old Greater Ohio League than against Fairland (21%).

Fairland has been the most dominant program in the OVC since 2016, when they won OVC titles in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. They also won the title in 2025.

Hoopster98 wrote: Tue Dec 23, 2025 9:47 am Portsmouth had no answer for him inside. The Trojans will struggle against teams that have a good big that can score inside.

The Trojans struggled mightily defending the 3 point shot. Don't have the official numbers, but the real difference in the game was the 3 point shooting by Fairland. Fransen not only scored in the post, but also hit some perimeter shots as well. With as many 3 point shooters as there is in today's basketball, PHS has to do much better in this aspect defensively. If not, then there will be games going forward like what happened last night.

I figured more pressure would of been applied by the trojans. It is hard though to get into press if you don't score.

I have watched Fairland 3 times a scrimmage, online and at Ironton against Hurricane. They will shoot bunches of 3s and you better be ready to defend against them. Hurricane stepped up Sat on defense and came from behind to win. What I have seen they don't have a real deep bench imo.
You live by the three but you can die by it also.

Found out that Fairland shot an amazing 16 of 24 from 3 ball land.......66.7%. That was the difference in the game even though Cliff Fransen had a huge night. PHS did a poor job of defending the perimeter.

Portsmouth didnt defend the 3 but the way they were falling for Fairland, it might not have made a huge difference. I'm willing to bet FHS doesn't shoot the 3 ball that well when they come to Portsmouth for the rematch. Kind of disappointed the Trojans arent applying a full court press the entire game. They have the athletes and seem conditioned enough to do it.

trojandave wrote: Fri Dec 26, 2025 10:24 am Found out that Fairland shot an amazing 16 of 24 from 3 ball land.......66.7%. That was the difference in the game even though Cliff Fransen had a huge night. PHS did a poor job of defending the perimeter.

10 of the 16 made 3s came in 1st half. Curious if any Fairland or OVC folks know what the FHS record is for made 3s in a game or for a half? This game surely had to challenge the record(s) if it didn't break any...