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The Fairfield Prep basketball team is headed to the state championship game for the first time in 14 years. The No. 9 Jesuits solved a stingy Ridgefield defense and then held off a last gasp comeback attempt by the Tigers to advance to the Class LL state finals, 60-55.
Star shooter Terry Tarpey was held in check by Ridgefield for most of the night, but Kevin Potter and Robbie Bier picked up the slack. Potter and Bier each hit key three-pointers in the fourth quarter to hold off the Tigers. Bier led all scorers with 25 points, while Potter added 12.
Prep trailed by six points with just more than three minutes to play in the third quarter but began a strong 9-0 run to climb back into the game. The Jesuits were 13-for-19 from the free throw line, which turned out to be a huge factor in the win.
Fairfield Prep, led by first-year head coach Leo Redgate, will take on second-ranked St. Joseph in the Class LL finals in what some are calling a "dream matchup" between two Fairfield County teams. The championship game will be held at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday at 8:15 p.m.
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