Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

OAK HILL — If all Fairland’s games are like their first game, the Dragons are in for an exciting ride.

In a game that went back and forth, the Oak Hill Oaks managed to escape with a 60-56 win on Friday.

Fairland managed to take a 10-9 lead with 2:04 left in the first quarter when Drew Haislop hit a pair of 3-pointers to put the Oaks ahead 15-11 at the end of the quarter.

The Dragons got hot in the second quarter as they hit 6 of 10 field goal attempts and 3 of 4 from the line to surge ahead 26-24 at the break.

Oak Hill struggled with just 4 of 12 shooting in the second quarter.

Luke Hammond’s 3-pointer to open the second half vaulted the Oaks back in front and they managed to lead by as many as five points.

The Dragons battled back and tied the game 38-38 before the Oaks closed the quarter with a 7-4 run and led 45-42.

The fourth quarter became a see-saw battle.

Fairland outscored the Oaks 8-4 to begin the quarter and grab a 50-49 lead.

Kyle Love nailed a 3-pointer from the wing and Haislop scored again after a Fairland miss and the Oaks were up 54-50.

The Dragons’ Evan Maddox drained a pair of shots from behind the arc around a couple of free throws by Love and Fairland drew even at 56-56.

But Haislop scored on a layup and the Dragons went cold and failed to score over the final 2:08 of the game.

Maddox — who made six 3-point goals — led all scorers with 26 points. Nathan Campbell and Chance Short each scored 8 points for the Dragons.

The Oaks had a balanced attack with Hammond scoring 19, Haislop 17 and Love 16.

Fairland visits Gallipolis on Tuesday.

Fairland 11 15 16 14 = 56

Oak Hill 15 9 21 15 = 60

FAIRLAND (0-1): Thayer Flynn 1 0 0-0 2, Chance Short 1 0 6-8 8, Luke Phillips 2 0 1-2 5, Nathan Campbell 2 1 1-2 8, Kyle Rainer 2 1 0-0 7, Evan Maddox 2 6 2-2 26. Totals: 11 8 10-14 56.

OAK HILL (1-0): Ryan Gaines 1 0 0-0 2, Garrin Stiltner 2 0 2-4 6, Drew Haislop 3 2 2-4 17, Kyle Love 2 3 3-7 16, Luke Hammond 6 1 4-5 19. Totals: 14 7 11-20 60.