01/23/2026
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARMI - Although they trailed for most of their championship game on Friday night at the Carmi-White County Invitational Tournament, the Fairfield Mules stayed right with Mt. Vernon (IN.).

But in the end, the Mules just couldn't quite reach the mountain top.

Fairfield managed to even the title game at 47-47 with under a minute left in the fourth quarter only to see the Wildcats come up with a key basket with :04.7 remaining to secure a 49-47 victory.

The Mules had late chances in the final period, but missed free throws and a couple of key turnovers sealed the Mules' fate.

The Wildcats, coached by former Lawrenceville state champion player Doug Novsek, improved their record to 10-5 with the win which added the seventh CWCIT title to the program.

“I'm super proud of our kids effort. This was probably our most complete game we've had this year. We just a few too many turnovers there,” said Fairfield head coach Scott McElravy. “There were four possessions where they (Mt. Vernon) didn't score but we didn't, either. We got the shots that we really wanted, but they just didn't fall.”

Keeping the Mules in contention in scoring were senior Jake Easton with 16-points and junior Owen Gruen with 15.

Senior Lane Robson with nine and juinor Breychan Kovacich with seven rounded out the Fairfield scoring.

Senior forward Brady Schickel led the Wildcats with 17-points while eventual tournament Most Valuable Player senior guard Nash Hostetter scored 14.

Coach Novsek also got a 13-point contribution from senior guard Meyer Robb with 13-points.

Robb also led his team with five assists, none more important than his last second pass to Schickel, who got the ball near the basket for the game-winning score.

The beginning wasn't exactly what Coach McElravy was looking for.

Mt. Vernon broke a 5-5 tie with a 15-6 finish to the opening quarter.

Robb closed the frame nailing a 3-pointer from the left wing and then converting a fast break off of an assist from Hostetter for a 20-11 advantage.

The Mules committed three key turnovers hit just 4-of-11 from the field to start.

Fairield opened the second quarter with a 6-0 run.

(CONTINUED)

A 3-pointer from Robson was followed by a nice drive to the basket by Kovacich for a three-point play.

Easton closed out the scoring in the first half by Fairfield with a score inside before canning a 3-pointer from the left wing on an inbound pass as the Mules trailed just 26-24.

The Wildcats ended second quarter with Hostetter hitting shot from the left side of the lane and 1-of-2 free throws by senior Lane Harshbarger for a 29-24 lead at the break.

Both teams scored exactly 12-points in the third quarter, meaning Fairfield couldn't cut into the deficit.

Hostetter scored on consecutive possessions late in the third, sending the teams to the fourth quarter at 41-36 Wildcats.

Five-straight points by the Mules tied the game at 41.

Robson points inside started the run and 3-of-4 made free throws by Robson and Gruen evened the score.

Robson and Eaton each hit 3-point shots late in the quarter, with the Eaton bomb from the left wing tying the score for the final time at 47-47 with :42 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Mt. Vernon had the ball and worked for a final shot when Robb drove to the right of the lane and found Schickel open on the right side of the basket.

His shot found the mark to give the game its final margin.

After a time out by Fairfield and a foul to give by Mt. Vernon, the Mules inbound pass from near half-court to the basket was intercepted by Schickel to close the book on the Wildcats' championship victory.

“They made a play there at the end and we had some fouls to give but we didn't quite get it done,” said Coach McElravy.

Gruen led the Mules with seven rebounds, giving his team a 27-24 edge on the boards for the game.

Fairfield (13-9) ended up 17-of-41 overall, 6-of-17 from the 3-point arc and committed 12 turnovers.

The Wildcats improved to 10-5 on the season by hitting 18-of-42 from the floor, and just 2-of-12 from the long-range circle.

Coach McElravy was impressed by Mt. Vernon.

“They would easily win our conference. So that's a team for us is good (to play) moving down the road into regional play,” said Coach McElravy about Mt. Vernon.

CARMI-WHITE COUNTY 48, HARRISBURG 47
The host Bulldogs have struggled this season but they picked up a last second victory over Harrisburg in the third place game on Friday night.

Sophomore Carson Miller hit a mid-range shot on an inbounds pass that beat the buzzer to improve CWC to 2-15 on the season.

Dylan Winerberger scored 18-points for Coach Kevin Wolff to lead the way.

Thirteen points came from senior Merick Millhorn for the Bulldogs while Miller finished with eight.

Carmi-White County finished up 18-of-42, 3-of-16 from the arc.

Harrisburg and head coach Andy Fehrenbacher lost their second close game this week, losing in overtime to Fairfield on Monday before dropping the Friday night matchup.

Senior guard Grayson Stafford scored 17 to lead the Bulldogs with Brenden Davis adding 13.

Harrisburg (5-15) were 18-of-50, 8-of-27 from the arc with Stafford hitting five of the long-range shots.