It was a big afternoon and evening of rivalry basketball, Fayette County style, as Miami Trace High School hosted five games with the Washington Blue Lions on Saturday, Feb. 4.

The action culminated before an extremely large crowd on hand to witness the Frontier Athletic Conference championship game between the Blue Lions and Panthers.

Both varsity boys teams were 8-1 going into the game.

The Blue Lions came away with a 51-28 victory to earn the program’s first FAC title in this, the sixth season of the conference.

The day began with the boys freshman game that was won by the Blue Lions, 35-30.

In the girls’ j-v game, Miami Trace defeated Washington, 27-17.

There followed the j-v boys game which saw the Panthers beat the Blue Lions, 30-23.

In the varsity girls game, Miami Trace posted a 49-36 victory.

Finally, the stage was set for the game to decide the FAC championship. Miami Trace and Washington were the only teams left (in the six-team conference) yet to win a championship.

Washington’s Tanner Lemaster hit a three-point shot to begin the game. The Blue Lions would lead the entire way.

At the end of the first quarter the Blue Lions were in front, 10-4.

At the half, the Blue Lions held a 25-8 lead.

Washington led 46-19 after three quarters of play.

Lemaster was the game’s leading scorer with 11 points.

Also for the Blue Lions, Isaiah Haithcock and Michael Bearden each scored 10 points and John Wall had eight.

Austin Boedeker led the Panthers with six points. Isaiah Reisinger was next with four points.

Washington improves to 17-4 overall, 9-1 in the FAC, outright conference champions. The Blue Lions have one regular season game remaining, that being at Logan Elm High School Saturday, Feb. 11.

Miami Trace is now 16-4 overall, 8-2 in the FAC.

The Panthers play at Stivers School for the Arts Thursday and are at home to host Madeira Saturday, Feb. 11.

The Division II Southeast District tournament pairings will be announced Sunday, Feb. 5.

Elsewhere in the FAC in boys varsity games Saturday, Jackson beat Chillicothe, 48-40 and McClain topped Hillsboro, 44-39.

In other FAC varsity girls games Saturday, Jackson edged Chillicothe, 33-32 to finish 10-0 in the FAC.

Hillsboro beat McClain, 38-35.

The final FAC boys standings are: Washington, 9-1; Miami Trace, 8-2; Jackson, 7-3; Chillicothe, 3-7; Hillsboro, 2-8 and McClain, 1-9.

The final FAC girls standings are: Jackson, 10-0; Chillicothe, 7-3; Miami Trace, 6-4; McClain, 3-7; Washington, 2-8 and Hillsboro, 2-8.