Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — It was like a New Year’s Day hangover.

Coming off a triple overtime win at Coal Grove on Friday, the Fairland Dragons showed signs of an emotional hangover in a 69-59 loss to the Athens Bulldogs on Saturday at the fourth annual Chesapeake Beast of the Southeast.

The Dragons (9-4) were just 17 of 66 from the field for 25.8 percent and 5 of 25 from the 3-point line for 20 percent.

“We did a lot of good things, we just couldn’t shoot,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed. “We didn’t have the legs. We were more emotionally worn out than physically.”

Evan Maddox provided most of Fairland’s offense with 28 points. He also had 10 rebounds and 5 assists.

Athens (9-2) was led by Zacchia Saltzman with 20 points. Joe Burrow had 13 points and 3 assists while Sawyer Summers had 12 points.

Burrow scored 6 points as Athens grabbed a 21-8 first quarter lead. Saltzman had 6 points of his own in the second quarter but Maddox scored 5 points as Fairland got within 31-21 at the half.

Summers outscored Fairland’s team in the third quarter with 8 points and the Bulldogs opened up a 50-28 lead.

Athens (9-2) led by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter before Maddox took over and scored 21 points and got the Dragons within 7 points only to have the rally fall short.

“I think we got a sense of urgency in the second half and we were more scrappy,” said Speed.

Athens 21 10 19 19 = 69

Fairland 8 13 7 31 = 59

ATHENS (9-2): Joe Burrows 4-9 0-1 5-11 13, Zacchia Saltzman 6-7 1-2 5-6 20, Trae Williams 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Sawyer Summers 2-3 2-3 2-2 12, Adam Leuhrman 2-4 0-0 3-8 7, Jared Elmore 4-8 0-0 1-1 9, Ibi Watson 3-4 0-1 2-2 8. Totals: 24-42 18-30 69. 3-point goals: 3-7. Rebounds: 40 (Leuhrman 9). Assists: 8 (Burrow 3). Steals: 2. Turnovers: 24. Blocked shots: 4 (Watson 2). Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (9-4): Thayer Flynn 0-1 0-1 3-4 3, Cody Midkiff 1-2 0-6 0-0 2, Chance Short 2-6 0-3 3-3 7, Luke Phillips 1-2 0-0 1-2 3, Nathan Campbell 1-5 0-1 3-4 5, Phillip Beaty 0-0 1-3 0-0 3, Kyle Raines 2-8 0-1 2-4 6, Evan Maddox 4-13 4-10 8-10 28, Tyler Campbell 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Dionte Braye 1-4 0-0 0-0 2. Totals: 17-66 20-27 59. 3-point goals: 5-25. Rebounds: 38 (Maddox 10). Assists: 8 (Maddox 5). Steals: 1. Turnovers: 9. Blocked shots: 6 (Phillips 2). Fouls: 23. Fouled out: Short.