FAIRVIEW - Jan. 26, 2010 - Fairview coach Wayne Nutt said his team was intent on defending its home court against an Arenac Eastern squad that had beaten his team in the season-opener in December.

But after AE made it a season sweep with a 66-55 victory, Nutt said it was obvious the visitors deserved their victory.

"I tip my hat to them," Nutt said. "They deserved it. Arenac Eastern plays hard. They're for real, and I think maybe we got spoiled the last few years."

Eastern led 31-25 at the half, picking up its last two points on a buzzer-beating offensive rebound tip-in of a missed free throw by Joey Kramer. Fairview came out firing early in the third quarter, getting 3-pointers from Kyle Oates and Joe Koslakiewicz to key a quick 8-0 run that gave their team a 33-31 lead.

But after an exchange of baskets, Eastern took control with an eight minute, 28-4 run that gave AE a 61-39 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Fairview got no closer than the final margin.

Eastern got contributions from all corners during its big run, but the Graham Morgan's dominance on the glass and the quickness of guards Caleb Whitney and Kyle Zobel on the fast break were the catalysts.

"I'm very proud of the kids," said AE coach Bob Morgan. "We came out in the second half and really took control. I was real happy to have some guys step up.

"Joey Kramer was as good as he's been all year and Kevin Kovacs gave us some solid minutes. The guys on the bench gave us a lot."

Nut was particularly unhappy with how his team responded to taking the lead, both in the third quarter and during one quick moment in the second. At one point Fairview went on a 10-2 run to take a 24-22 lead, but that advantage lasted just five seconds -- just long enough for a long pass to Kramer, who drained a 3-pointer while several Fairview players were still making their way across midcourt.

"A couple of times, it was like we climbed up a big hill, then looked over the edge and just stepped off," Nutt said. "We needed to keep playing the way we did when we were coming back after we took the lead, but that was when we kind of stood around. Arenac made us pay for it."

All nine AE (6-5, 4-4 North Star League) players scored, led by Morgan, Zobel and Kramer, who each scored 14 points.

Fairview (3-7, 1-7) was paced by Oates' 18 points and Koslakiewicz with 10.