Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — When Fairland coach Nathan Speed starts talking about his team’s Final Four opponent, it sounds a lot like he’s describing his own team.
The Dragons will face a similar team to themselves when they play the Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph Vikings at 10:45 a.m. on Friday at the Schottenstein Center on the campus of Ohio State University in the Division III state semifinals.
“They’re quick. They like get up and down the floor They’re athletic and they like to get a lot of pass deflections,” said Speed.
“You’ve got to watch your passes. Defensively they get after you. You have to value your offensive possessions.”
Sound familiar Fairland opponents?
Fairland (25-1) comes into the game ranked fourth in the final Associated Press poll while Villa Angela-St. Joseph (21-6) was ranked eighth.
The Vikings are led by 5-foot-8 junior guard Gene Higgins with a 15.7 scoring average. Next is 6-8 sophomore Alonzo Gaffney with a 13.2 average and 6-4 senior Danny McGarry at 9.5 points a game.
The other two starters are 6-2 Noah Newlon (5.7 ppg) and 5-10 senior guard Andre George (4.3 ppg).
“They have guys who can score. They’re not like Gaffney who can score from anywhere. They have some guys who can attack the rim. They get a lot of points off team’s turnovers,” said Speed.
Fairland counters with 6-2 Gunner Short who averages 15.3 points a game and guard Luke Thomas with 15 points a clip.
Also in double figures is 6-3 Isaiah Howell at 14.6 points a game and 6-7 Kollin Van Horn with an 11.6 average. Also in the starting lineup is 6-foot point guard Ty Staten who has a 5.4 scoring average.
“I don’t think we’ll be nervous or timid. We’re not concerned with that. We’re concerned with Villa. Being there and being on that stage shouldn’t bother us,” said Speed.
While VASJ has played a strong schedule, Fairland has some impressive wins of its own. The Dragons beat traditional power Dayton Chaminade-Julianne and Huntington High who won the West Virginia Class AAA state title last weekend.
The Dragons one loss was to Division I power Hilliard Bradley.
Speed said the schedule has helped prepare the team for the Final Four stage — especially the game against Huntington.
“That game was up and down. It was a battle every possession. It was a game of many runs. It was a tournament style game. It was at the beginning of the year, but it was a tough game. We tried to play some tougher teams. Playing Bradley at their place in that environment was big,” said Speed.
The second Division III semifinal game Friday is between Cincinnati Roger Bacon and Archbold.
Speed said the focus is on VASJ and he has had very little time to look at the other two Final Four qualifiers.
Roger Bacon is 24-4 while Archbold is 22-5.
Roger Bacon isled by a trio of players on the offensive end that includes 6-4 sophomore Alec Pfriem, 6-foot junior Craig McGee and 6-6 senior James Johnson.
Pfriem averages 13.4 points a game, McGee 13.2 points and Johnson 12.8 points an outing.
But Speed said the Spartans are more imposing on defense.
“Roger Bacon is one of the better defensive teams we’ve seen in the halfcourt set. They’re very athletic,” said Speed.
While the Dragons know little about Roger Bacon, Speed confessed that they know even less about the Blue Streaks.
“They have the same head coach for the past 33 years and run a lot of the same things every year which is why they are so successful. I just hope we get a chance to study them. But right now our focus is on Villa Angela,” said Speed.
Archbold is led by 6-2 junior guard Bryce Williams who averages 14.8 points a game. No other player is in double figures.