Lions Roar Their Way to State Basketball Tournament

World War II was raging and the U.S. just had 48 states the last time the Fayetteville boys basketball team was headed to the state tournament back in 1942 and 1943.

But 81 years later, a new group of Fayetteville Lions, with play that redefines speed on the court, has earned their way back to state.

In two dizzying days of basketball at the Region IV-1A tournament at Burger Center in Austin over the weekend, the Lions claimed the regional title and punched their ticket to this week’s state tournament at The Alamodome.

“It’s pretty surreal,” said Fayetteville head coach Jake Diggs, who has led his team to a 32-5 record. “We sure enjoyed the heck out of it. A lot of hard work went into it.”

The Lions began the regional tournament with a 7359 victory over Wells Friday night as Keagan Supak scored 17, Jake Kubala scored 12 and Mason Fenhaus scored 11.

That vaulted the Lions into Saturday’s regional final against No. 6-ranked Brookeland, and Fayetteville prevailed led by a 20-point game from Supak.

Supak, one of three seniors on the Lions (along with Kubala and Cash Smith) was named Regional Tournament MVP.

“He did what Keagan does,” Diggs said. “I was really proud of his leadership.”

The Lions were all awarded regional title medals Saturday and got to cut down the net at Burger Center amidst the cheers of a huge crowd of Fayetteville supporters.

“We played our game, pushed the pace,” said Diggs, of his team that has made its living all year out of being faster offensively and defensively that its opponents.

Now the Lions face Jayton (36-3) Thursday at 10 a.m. in the state semifinals. Jayton lost in overtime in the state title game last season.

“They are dang good, super tough to score on, athletic,” Diggs said.

The winner of the Fayetteville/ Jayton semifinal will play the Benjamin (23-1)/Gordon (21-6) victor in the state title game Saturday at 8:30 a.m. back at the Alamodome.

Fayetteville is looking for its first ever boys basketball state title.

“We’re grateful for this opportunity,” Diggs said.

– Jeff Wick