HUNTINGTON, W.

Thursday, January 24, 2002

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – By the time the Fairland Dragons found their shooting eye, they couldn’t make the Huntington St. Joe Fighting Irish lose their touch.

Fairland (5-8) struggled to a 35 percent shooting night as they lost 62-53 to the Irish in the first round of the 25th annual Huntington St. Joe Invitational Tournament Wednesday at Memorial Field House.

Monroe Myers had 10 points the first quarter as St. Joe took a 17-10 lead. The Irish then went p 29-16 at the half as Fairland made just 3-of-16 field goal attempts the second quarter.

The scoring slowed down on both sides the third quarter as St. Joe outscored Fairland 11-to-10 and it was 40-26.

Chris Dinwiddie scored 14 points the fourth quarter as the Dragons finally got their offense on track by scoring 27 points. But the Fighting Irish maintained a comfortable lead by making 9-of-12 field goals in the final stanza.

Dinwiddie finished with a game high 26 points and had three assists and two steals.

Dru Brooks added 10 points, Darren Colburn grabbed nine rebounds while Michael Hill had four assists.

Myers scored 22 points, had eight rebounds and four steals to lead the Irish, 7-4. Marc Houvouras had 11 points while Brian Ferguson grabbed six rebounds and Xavier Thomas handed out four assists.

In Friday’s consolation game, Fairland faces Tolsia at 7 p.m.

Fairland 10 6 10 27 – 53

Hnt. St. Joe 17 12 11 22 – 62

FAIRLAND (5-8): Michael Hill 1 0 0-0 2, Darren Colburn 3 0 0-0 6, Dru Brooks 3 0 4-6 10, Chris Dinwiddie 5 4 4-4 26, Brad Taliaferro 0 3 0-0 9, Ryan White 0 0 0-0 0, Matt Clark 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-53 (7-29) 8-10 53. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. FG% -35. Rebounds: 13-14=27 (Colburn 9). Assists: 9 (Hill 4, Dinwiddie 3). Turnovers: 18. Blocked shots: Dinwiddie 1. Steals: 8. (Brooks 3, Dinwiddie 2). Deadball rebounds: 1.

HUNTINGTON ST. JOE (7-4): Nick Reynolds 0 0 2-2 2, Xavier Thomas 3 0 1-3 7, Alex Baker 3 0 0-2 6, Adam Reynolds 2 0 0-0 4, Marc Houvouras 3 1 2-2 11, John Wray 0 0 1-2 1, Monroe Myers 10 0 2-2 22, Brian Ferguson 4 0 1-3 9. Totals: 26-49 (1-5) 9-16 62. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 12-22=34 (Myers 8, Ferguson 6). Assists: 14 (Thomas 4). Turnovers: 16. Steals: 10 (Myers 4). Deadball rebounds: 4.