Kettering Fairmont looks to stay hot as they enter the final stretch
KETTERING, Ohio – The Kettering Fairmont varsity boys basketball team is off to their best start since 2015 and they are looking to carry this momentum down the homestretch of the season.
The Firebirds’ 11-1 record (6-1 in conference) places them in second place in the Greater Western Ohio Conference just behind reigning Division I champions Centerville who are 8-0.
Head coach Kenny Molz is in his third season with the team and has seen tremendous improvements over the years.
From what he’s learned as a coach over the years, it starts with gaining trust with the players and having them on the same page.
“Developing leadership with our players I think has been, if not the most important thing that’s happened from last year to this year,” Molz said.
Fairmont looks to take the next step this season, as they have the potential to make it far as they have ten returning players from last year’s squad.
That includes 6-foot senior guard Anthony Johnson, who has taken the next step in his game and has received high praise from Coach Molz.
“I think the biggest thing though for AJ that’s been the difference maker for him is being a leader with the other guys, not just vocally but leading by example,” Coach Molz said.
Johnson made All GWOC second team honors last season as a junior and leads the team in scoring and rebounding this year at 19 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Johnson also leads the GWOC in total points and total made three pointers up to this point. He doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
While posting shooting splits of 50-50-86, Johnson is putting on a strong senior season campaign while leading the Firebirds down the stretch. He posted career highs in points and rebounds against Alter on Dec. 17 with 31 points and 13 rebounds.
Fairmont is also receiving contributions from senior Dasan Doucet, who has stepped up in leading the team.
“The biggest jump for Dasan this year is that he’s just not working quantity like minutes in the gym, but he’s working on the quality of what he’s doing,” Coach Molz said.
The 6-foot-4 forward is second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.9 points per game while shooting a team best 56.6% from the field. This includes a 21-point performance back on Dec. 30 where he shot nine for nine from the field against Fairborn.
The dynamic duo of Johnson and Doucet is a scary matchup for teams, and both can go off to have a big game.
“With AJ’s shooting range, that opens up things for Dasan taking it to the rim,” Coach Molz said.
Statistically, the Firebirds are averaging 62.2 points per game with a 25-point differential this season.
Fairmont has ten more games remaining this season before postseason play, including a rematch against Centerville who they lost to 48-36 on the road back on Dec. 21. This time around, they will play Centerville at home on Feb. 4 with hopes of evening the score.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.