Not much separates Fairfax from St. Patrick in first half

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A tight first half here between Fairfax and Elizabethtown (N.J.) St. Patrick in the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei High.

Fairfax leads, 28-26, but St. Patrick is hanging with the defending Division I state champions.

The Lions jumped to a 16-6 lead on a pair of three-pointers by Solomon Hill and a three-point play by Renardo Sidney, pictured.

St. Patrick scored the final five points of the quarter to get back within five points.

Sidney’s slam gave Fairfax a seven-point lead, but the Celtics scored 15 of the next 25 points to make it a two-point game.

Sidney has 12 points to lead the Lions, but he’s up against a tough defender in 6-8 senior Quintrell Thomas.

Dexter Strickland has 12 points to lead St. Patrick, which has been to the free-throw line 10 times, compared to once for the Lions.

--Dan Arritt

-- Image by Karen Tapia-Andersen/Los Angeles Times