Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — The Fairland Lady Dragons made the second half their better half.

Tied at halftime, the Lady Dragons went to work in the second half and pulled away to a 67-49 win over the Wheelersburg Lady Pirates on Monday.

“We played pretty good in the second half,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan. “Wheelersburg is a very aggressive team. They were very athletic. But in the second half we did a good job with our defensive rebounding.”

Fairland’s 6-foot-4 junior center Terra Stapleton not only rebounded but scored as well. Stapleton had 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

Chandler Fulks and Kelsey Riley scored 11 points each in the win.

Wheelersburg (15-3) was led by Fay Proehl with 18 points Sydney Holden — daughter of former Marshall standout Rodney Holden — scored 15 points.

Stapleton scored 8 points in the first quarter to offset 9 by Proehl as Fairland took an 18-14 lead.

Holden had 6 points in the second quarter as Wheelersburg rallied to tie the game at the half 28-28.

Chandler Fulks and Caitlin Stone hit 3-pointers and Stapleton hit a basket as the Lady Dragons went up 36-30 to begin the second half and never trailed.

Stapleton scored 9 points and Fulks had 6 points in the quarter as Fairland opened up a 50-41 lead.

“That’s the best we have played after halftime,” said Buchanan.

The Lady Dragons’ defense held the Lady Pirates to 8 points in the fourth quarter as they extended their lead.

“To score 67 points against Wheelersburg is pretty good. They are a pretty good defensive team,” said Buchanan.

The win was the 39th regular-season win in a row for the Lady Dragons (16-0). They will attempt win the Ohio Valley Conference outright when they host Coal Grove on Thursday.

“Our girls are looking forward to that one,” said Buchanan.

Wheelersburg has already clinched the Southern Ohio Conference II title with a 12-0 record. It is the Lady Pirates first league title since 1998.

Wheelersburg 14 14 13 8 = 49

Fairland 18 10 22 17 = 67

WHEELERSBURG (15-3): Paige White 1 0 0-0 2, Brooke Smith 1 0 1-5 3, Fay Proehl 6 1 3-6 18, Sarah Willis 0 0 0-0 0, Sydney Holden 1 2 7-9 15, Maggie Stegman 1 0 1-2 3, Laiken Salyers 1 0 2-2 4, Brooklyn Adams 0 1 1-2 4. Totals: 11 4 15-26 49. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Proehl.

FAIRLAND (16-0): Haley Woodall 0 0 0-0 0, Terra Stapleton 10 0 4-5 24, Kayla Swiger 0 1 0-0 3, Mollie Morris 0 0 0-0 0, Briana Dickess 1 0 2-2 4, Chandler Fulks 2 2 1-3 11, Mackenzie Riley 0 0 0-0 0, Mariah Chaffin 0 1 0-0 3, Kelsey Riley 4 0 3-4 11, Caitlin Stone 1 1 0-0 5, Taylor Perry 2 0 2-2 6, Pieper Lewis 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Staten 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 5 12-16 67. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: M. Riley.