Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — That up and down ride was headed in the wrong direction Friday night.

The Fairland Dragons’ rollercoaster season took a dip as they lost 61-51 to the Tug Valley Panthers in the Huntington Invitational.

“We’re just too inconsistent,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed. “We had our opportunities and we didn’t make the plays. We had 13 turnovers, but we had them at the most inopportune times.”

The Panthers (8-3) led 13-12 after the first quarter, but Chance Short scored 11 points in the second quarter including three straight 3-pointers as the Dragons tied the game 25-25 at the half.

Calvin Blankenship scored 9 points and Hayden Sturgell had 7 points in the third quarter as Tug Valley outscored Fairland 18-9 to take a 43-34 lead.

Isaiah Howell had 8 points and Luke Thomas hit a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Dragons tried to rally, but the Panthers outscored Fairland 18-17 to get the win.

Thomas led Fairland (10-6) with 14 points including four 3-pointers. Short and Howell had 13 points each.

Howell grabbed seven rebounds and Tyler Campbell six as the Dragons out-rebounded the Panthers 27-23. Thomas and Nathan Cambpell had three assists each.

Sturgell scored 20 points and Tyler May 12 as Tug Valle shot 20 of 37 from the field for 54 percent.

Fairland 12 13 9 17 = 51

Tug Valley 13 12 18 18 = 61

FAIRLAND (10-6): Chance Short 2 3 0-0 13, Gunner Short 0 1 0-0 3, Isaiah Howell 4 1 2-4 13, Nathan Campbell 0 0 0-0 0, Tyler Staten 0 0 0-0 0, Luke Thomas 0 4 2-2 14, Tyler Campbell 2 0 1-2 5, Kollin Van Horn 0 0 3-6 3. Totals: 17-50 8-14 51. 3-point goals: 9-24. Rebounds: 27 (Howell 7, T. Campbell 6). Assists: 12 (Thomas 3, N. Campbell 3). Steals: 1. Turnovers: 13. Blocked shots: 1 (Van Horn). Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

TUG VALLEY (8-3): Jonathan Blankenship 1 0 1-2 3, Jeremy Dillon 0 0 3-6 3, Tyler May 2 1 5-5 12, Hayden Sturgell 6 1 5-5 20, Corbin Oliver 1 1 0-0 5, Austin Baisden 1 0 1-4 3, Calvin Blankenship 2 1 2-2 9, Colby Savage 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 20-37 17-24 61. 3-point goals: 4-8. Rebounds: 23 (May 7, Dillon 5). Assists: 7. Steals: 0. Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.