Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — Pardon the Fairland Lady Dragons if they seem a little selfish. It’s a league championship thing.

The Lady Dragons had clinched a tie for the Ohio Valley Conference basketball title, so a win over the Coal Grove Lady Hornets on Thursday would clinch the crown outright.

The Associated Press 4th-ranked Lady Dragons did just that in an impressive fashion with a 45-29 win.

“That was big,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan. “We didn’t want to share it. We didn’t want anyone else to have a 2013 championship banner hanging in their gym.”

Fairland held Coal Grove to a mere 5 points in the first half and coasted to their 17th win without a loss including 8-0 in the OVC.

Terra Stapleton again asserted her dominance with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Chandler Fulks scored 12 points, Kelsey Riley grabbed 8 rebounds and Taylor Perry had 4 assists.

“We guarded really well. To hold Coal Grove to just five points in the first half says a lot about our defense,” said Buchanan. “The first possession of the game they didn’t get off a shot until there was 6:33 on the clock. That’s shutting down a team for a minute and 27 and they weren’t holding the ball.”

Darrien Hankins scored 9 points to lead the Lady Hornets (12-7, 5-4).

Stapleton scored 8 points in the first quarter as Fairland built a 14-3 lead.

Fulks scored 7 points in the second quarter and it was 29-5 at the half.

The Lady Dragons extended the lead to 41-9 in the third quarter before Buchanan began to substitute freely.

Coal Grove 41-16 after three quarters and outscored Fairland 13-4 in the fourth quarter.

The Lady Dragons will have Senior Night on Monday when they host Meigs.

Coal Grove visits Ironton on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a varsity-only game.

Coal Grove 3 2 11 13 = 29

Fairland 14 15 12 4 = 45

COAL GROVE (12-7, 5-4): Jacy Jones 0 0 5-6 5, Katey Erwin 0 0 0-0 0 0, Leah Crum 1 0 0-0 2, Leslie Mulkey 1 0 0-0 2, Taylor Fleming 0 1 0-0 3, Ashley Adkins 0 1 0-2 3, Morgan Sites 2 0 1-1 5, Darrien Hankins 3 0 3-6 9. Totals: 7 2 9-15 29. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (17-0, 8-0): Haley Woodall 0 0 0-0 0, Terra Stapleton 8 0 4-6 20, Taylor Staten 0 0 0-0 0, Kayla Swiger 0 0 1-2 1, Mollie Morris 0 0 0-0 0, Briana Dickess 0 0 0-0 0, Chandler Fulks 3 2 0-2 12, Mackenzie Riley 0 0 0-0 0, Mariah Chaffin 0 0 2-2 2, Kelsey Riley 1 0 0-0 2, Caitlin Stone 0 0 2-2 2, Taylor Perry 3 0 0-0 6, Pieper Lewis 0 0 0-0 0, Jenna Fulks 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 2 9-14 45. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.