ABOVE: Fairmont's Joseph Hackett fires a three in a Big South Conference boys basketball game against Redwood Valley Tuesday night in Fairmont.

FAIRMONT – The Fairmont Cardinals struggled with a physical Redwood Valley defense on Tuesday night, falling 73-60 in a Big South Conference boys basketball game.

“We knew it would be a very physical game,” said Fairmont head basketball coach Jared Thompson. “I know they play very physical defense, and I thought at the end of the day, I thought their physicality bothered us a lot early. We adjusted to it as the game went on, but still in spurts, we have got to be a little stronger with the ball on offense, and I think we have some big advantages there.”

Leading Fairmont was Oliver Tordsen with 15 points, 16 rebounds, two assists and five blocks, while Logan Junkermeier put up 12 points and 13 rebounds. Hadan Toomer had 11 points and Joseph Hackett scored 9 points.

The outside shooting of Redwood Valley caused problems for Fairmont as it drained a total of 16 3-pointers on the night.

Despite those 16 shots from beyond the arc, Thompson was proud of how his players still managed to keep Redwood Valley to 73 points.

“I loved how we played defense,” said Thompson. “Holding Redwood in that many possessions,

they shoot the ball very quickly, so holding them to 73 when they made 16 3s, I was actually

pleased with our defense. Number three, the [Lukas] Means kid is just unbelievable. He got going, and he hit two or three behind the volleyball line, and he and [Elway] Berg, any time you make a mistake, they make you pay. They don’t miss those open 3s, and they made enough of them, 16 of them, to kind of keep us at arm’s length.”

The opening half started out promising for Fairmont as it took the lead 4-2. Redwood Valley wasted no time in getting its scoring from behind the arc, draining four 3s for a 12-0 run and 14-4 lead. A deep shot by Joe Long reopened the scoring for Fairmont, which adjusted to guarding the outside and firing off shots from range to start cutting into the lead down 31-16. Junkermeier and Hackett found their stride in the final minutes of the half, combining for 7 points before heading into the half down 43-31.

Fairmont opened the second frame by adjusting to address Redwood Valley’s physical style, but a 6-0 run put Redwood Valley up 49-33. Fairmont was able to string together a couple of buckets, one of which was from Tordsen, whose initial shot hit off the rim, prompting him to snag his rebound and convert his own putback. Fairmont continued trying to battle its way back into the game when Toomer leapt over a defender, sinking the shot and drawing a foul. Fairmont was then able to pull within 10 points, 53-43, with just over ten minutes on the clock.

Redwood Valley’s defense kept Fairmont at bay despite Junkermeier, Toomer, and Tordsen continuing to drive the ball to the basket. Toomer was fouled in the final minute, sending him to the line for what would be the last point of the game.

Fairmont’s next game is at home against Martin County West at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.