Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — By doing the two things they wanted, the Fairland Lady Dragons got the third thing they wanted.

Limiting their offensive rebounds and allowing only three 3-pointers, Fairland knocked off the No. 8-ranked Wheelersburg Lady Pirates 69-57 on Saturday.

‘We wanted to keep them off the 3-point line. They have a lot of kids who can shoot the basketball. They had 14 3s against Minford,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan.

“We wanted to keep them off the offensive glass. They crash the boards harder than anyone we’ve played. They got a few, but we didn’t let them hurt us.”

Kelsey Riley scored a career-high 26 points as Fairland won the showdown of Division III Southeast district powers.

Caitlin Stone scored 14 points including four 3-pointers and Jenna Fulks added 10 points for the Lady Dragons (13-3).

Brooke Smith — who had all three of the Lady Pirates 3-pointers — and Sydney Holden scored 15 each. Makayla Akers added 11 points for Wheelersburg (15-2).

“Kelsey Riley had a career night. She put the team on her back. She scored inside and out and she rebounded,” said Buchanan.

“Stone did her thing and hit from the 3-point line. Jenna Fulks has been steady getting in double figures and Taylor Staten gave us some key points.”

Riley had 9 points and Stone hit a pair of treys as Fairland took a 15-8 first quarter lead. Riley had 7 points and Stone hit two more 3-pointers in the second quarter as the Lady Dragons extended their lead to 35-22.

“Once we got the 10-point lead, we were pretty much in control,” said Buchanan. We had a stretch from the second quarter into the third quarter that we played our best basketball of the season.”

Riley had 7 points in the third quarter but Holden had 11 points and Smith 7 as the Lady Pirates trailed 55-43.

Wheelersburg never got any closer than 9 points the rest of the game and the Lady Dragons converted 10 of 15 from the line in the fourth quarter to seal the outcome.

Fairland’s 69 points were the most allowed by Wheelersburg this season.

The Lady Dragons visit Gallipolis on Monday.

Wheelersburg 8 14 21 14 = 57

Fairland 15 20 20 14 = 69

WHEELERSBURG (15-2): Ellie Ruby 2 0 1-4 5, Brooke Smith 1 3 4-6 15, Kalle Coleman 1 0 0-2 2, Brittany Swim 1 0 0-0 2, Sydney Holden 3 0 9-12 15, Brooklyn Adams 3 0 1-1 7, Makayla Akers 4 0 3-6 11. Totals: 15 3 18-31 57. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Coleman, Ruby.

FAIRLAND (13-3): Maddy Kazee 1 0 0-0 2, Taylor Staten 1 1 3-4 8, Mackenzie Riley 2 0 2-2 6, Kelsey Riley 9 1 5-7 26, Caitlin Stone 0 4 3-3 15, Jenna Fulks 2 0 6-10 10, Alesha Simpson 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 16 6 19-25 69. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: M. Riley.