WESTWOOD, Ky. - The Green Bobcats are taking small steps. Coach Kevin Sheridan is hoping for long strides.

Sheridan was upbeat Tuesday despite Green's 55-52 loss to the Kentucky Class A powerhouse Fairview Eagles.

"We did a better job defensively and we did a better job rebounding the ball," Sheridan said. "I felt we made a lot of progress. Now we have to jump back in the gym and move forward and prepare for the next game."

Fairview (5-2) took an 11-10 lead in the first quarter. Derek Lewis had 5 points to keep the Bobcats close.

The Eagles got just 9 points in the second quarter, but Green managed to make just 2 of 6 free throws for all its scoring and it was 20-12 at the break.

"We just went numb in the second quarter and that was the difference. But Fairview is a very good team," Sheridan said.

Nathan Patten came off the bench to score 7 points in the third quarter as he hit a pair of 3-pointers and Green got within 34-27.

Lewis pumped in 11 points and Patten 7 in the fourth quarter as Green battled back, but the Eagles held on for the win.

"We got good minutes out of Nathan. We put him in for some offense and he drilled a couple of 3s to get us back in the game," Sheridan said. "But every time we got back in the game, they hit the big shot. Fannin did a nice job for them."

Cody Fannin led the Eagles with 21 points, 19 in the second half. Alex barker added 10 points.

Lewis led Green (3-5) with 18 points. Patten had 14 points while John Dawson grabbed 11 rebounds and Brian Ramey pulled down seven rebounds.

Green1021525-52

Fairview1191421-55

GREEN (3-5):

C.J. Blevins 1 0 0-0 2, Jason Bester 1 0 2-4 4, Derek Lewis 6 1 3-10 18, Nathan Patten 2 3 1-1 14, Adam Sparks 1 0 0-0 2, Brian Ramey 0 1 0-0 3, John Bowen 1 0 2-3 4, Mark Castro 0 0 0-2 0, John Dawson 2 0 1-3 5. Totals:

19-64

(5)

9-23

52. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Dawson. Rebounds: 19-12=31 (Dawson 11, Ramey 7). Assists: 8 (Bester 5). Turnovers: 10. Steals: 5.

FAIRVIEW (5-2):

Alex Barker 4 0 2-5 10, Brett Cooksey 1 0 0-0 2, Justin Hutchinson 0 1 5-6 8, Jeremy Bayless 3 0 2-3 8, Cody Fannin 7 1 4-4 21, Cody Black 2 0 0-2 4, Alvin Bailey 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 18

2

13-20

55. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Fannin.