Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — Unlike a trial lawyer at the end of a case, the defense did not rest.

A strong defensive effort from start to finish helped the Fairland Lady Dragons beat the South Point Lady Pointers 51-27 Thursday in a key Ohio Valley Conference game.

“The defense played well. Our guards did a good job pressuring their guards and then it’s nice to have Terra (Stapleton) in the middle,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan.

Fairland clamped down defensively and held South Point to 4 of 37 shooting form the field over the final three quarters.

The Lady Pointers were 10 of 49 from the floor for 20 percent and a meager 3 of 20 from the 3-point line for 15 percent.

“They took a lot of 3’s, but we did a great job of guarding and contesting their shots and getting a hand in their face,” said Buchanan. “Defensively, we’ve allowed 58 total points in the last two games.”

While the defense turned in a strong effort, Terra Stapleton carried the offense. The 6-foot-4 junior scored 20 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked 6 shots.

Mackenzie Riley had 7 rebounds and 7 points and Chandler Fulks added 7 points, 4 assists and 3 steals.

Aundrea Bradburn scored 11 points and grabbed 7 rebounds for the Lady Pointers (5-6, 3-2). Brett Justice had 9 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.

The game was close the first quarter. Fulks had 5 points to offset 6 points by Bradburn as Fairland took a 19-15 lead.

But the defense went to work in the second quarter and held South Point to just two points and the lead was 27-17 at the half.

Stapleton took control of the offense in the third quarter as she scored 10 of Fairland’s 14 points to build a 41-23 cushion.

The Lady Dragons outscored South Point 10-4 in the fourth quarter.

South Point 15 2 6 4 = 27

Fairland 19 8 14 10 = 51

SOUTH POINT (5-6, 3-2): Abbey Winkler 1-4 0-5 0-0 2, Bonnie Hileman 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Brianna Whaley 0-0 0-1 0-0 0, Haley Rawlins 0-1 1-4 0-0 3, Brett Justice 4-12 0-2 1-2 9, Brianna Bacon 0-1 0-2 0-0 0, Lakin Adams 1-3 0-0 0-0 2, Aundrea Bradburn 1-7 2-6 3-4 11. Totals: 10-49 4-6 27. 3-point goals: 3-20. Rebounds: 36 (Justice 10, Bradburn 7). Assists: 4. Steals: 6 (Bradburn2, Justice 2). Turnovers: 26. Blocked shots: 6 (Justice 3). Fouls: 10. Fouled out: Adams.

FAIRLAND (9-0, 4-0): Haley Woodall 0-2 0-0 0-0 0, Terra Stapleton 9-22 0-0 2-2 20, Kayla Swiger 0-2 0-2 0-0 0, Mollie Morris 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Briana Dickess 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Chandler Fulks 2-5 1-7 0-0 7, Mackenzie Riley 2-4 0-0 3-4 7, Mariah Chaffin 1-1 0-0 1-2 3, Kelsey Riley 3-3 0-0 0-0 6, Caitlyn Stone 1-4 0-1 0-0 2, Kayla Perry 0-4 0-0 0-0 0, Pieper Lewis 1-1 0-0 2-2 4, Jenna Fulks 1-1 0-0 0-0 2, Tiffany Christian 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-61 8-10 51. 3-point goals: 1-10. Rebounds: 44 (Stapleton 11, M. Riley 7, K. Riley 5). Assists: 14 (K. Riely 3, C. Fulks 3). Turnovers: 16. Blocked shots: 11 (Stapleton 6). Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.