Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — It wasn’t a good effort but it was a good outcome for the Fairland Dragons.
Fairland had a sluggish performance but battled through the tough times to beat the Coal Grove Hornets 67-36 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
“We weren’t moving the ball well offensively and we lacked intensity on defense,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed.
“But our kids know how to fight through those kinds of games and they were able to get the job done.”
The Dragons were led by Isaiah Howell with 16 points, five rebounds and four steals. Ty Staten had 13 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Kollin Van Horn finished with nine points and 10 rebounds for the unbeaten Dragons (4-0, 2-0).
Coal Grove (2-1, 1-1) was led by Nate Harmon with nine points and Sam Angelo with seven. Jeb Jones had five rebounds.
Fairland was 23-of-55 from the field 42 percent while Coal Grove was 13-of-55 for 23 percent.
“The shots just wouldn’t fall. We were 2-for-12 from the paint and they were 9-for-11 in the first half. We shoot 21 percent in the first half,” said Hornets’ coach Kevin Vanderhoof.
“Our effort is always there. We didn’t lay down and quit. We kept battling.”
Staten scored six points in the first quarter as Fairland went up 13-9.
The Dragons caught fire in the second quarter and outscored the Hornets 23-8 to lead 36-17 at the half.
Howell scored 12 of his points in the quarter and Van Horn scored five.
Keedrick Cunningham had five points including a 3-pointer as five different players scored and the Dragons extended the lead to 50-24.
Joel Lambiotte had four points and Clayton Thomas hit a 3-pointer for Fairland in the fourth quarter.
Harmon scored five points and Alijah Roman hit a trifecta in the quarter for the Hornets.
Coal Grove played Huntington St. Joe on Saturday while Fairland hosts Gallipolis on Tuesday.
Fairland    13    23    14    17    =    67
Coal Grove    9    8    7    12    =    36
FAIRLAND (4-0, 2-0): Isaiah Howell 6 0 4-7 16, Ty Staten 5 0 3-8 13, Luke Thomas 2 1 1-1 8, Kollin Van Horn 2 0 5-6 9, Keedrick Cunningham 2 1 0-0 7, Chase Fisher 1 0 0-0 2, Joel Lambiotte 2 0 5-6 9, Matt Mondlak 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Gartin 0 0 0-0 0, Ian Chinn 0 0 3-4 3, Ty Wilcoxon 0 0 0-0 0, Clayton Thomas 0 1 0-0 3, Andy Lange 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-55 21-32 67. 3-pt goals: 3-14. Rebounds: 43 (Van Horn 10, Staten 5, Howell 5). Assists: 10 (Staten 4). Steals: 7 (Howell 4). Blocked shots: 5 (Van Horn 3). Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.
COAL GROVE (2-1, 1-1): Aaron Music 0 0 1-3 1, Cory Borders 2 0 0-0 4, Jordan Case 0 0 0-0 0, Jeb Jones 2 0 0-1 4, Nate Harmon 3 0 3-5 9, Payton Smith 0 1 0-0 3, Justin Hicks 0 0 0-0 0, Jalen McKenzie 1 0 1-2 3, Sam Angelo 2 0 3-4 7, Evan Gannon 0 0 0-0 0, Alijah Roman 1 1 0-0 5, Damian Giles 0 0 0-0 0, Dakota Byrne 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13-55 8-22 36. 3-pt. goals: 2-17. Rebounds: 20 (Jones 5). Assists: 4 (Music 2). Steals: 2. Blocked shots: 1. Turnovers: 20.