Dragons use long 3-pointer to knock off Hornets at the buzzer, 50-47

Published 12:00 am Friday, January 14, 2005

COAL GROVE - Live by the 3, die by the 3.

Last week, the Fairland Dragons lost an upset bid to Jackson when the Ironmen threw in a 30-foot bank shot at the buzzer. This week, the Dragons won on a long bomb.

Josh Johnson hit a 30-footer at the buzzer as Fairland beat the Coal Grove Hornets 50-47 Tuesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

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"The difference between this game and Jackson, our guy shot the ball and (Jackson's) guy slung the ball," Fairland coach Chad Belville said.

"We're starting to come together. I didn't think we had a lot of defensive intensity, but we found a way to get it done."

Fairland led 27-25 at the half, but Coal Grove came back to take a 39-35 lead after three quarters.

The Hornets were up 46-41 with 1:41 to play when Kyle Wise hit a 3-pointer to get Fairland within 46-44.

Coal Grove's Randy Wise was fouled and hit one of two shots for a 47-44 lead, but Kyle Wise hit another 3-pointer to tie the game.

On the Hornets next possession, the ball was knocked loose and Matt Burd grabbed the ball and forced a jump with 3.9 seconds left. The jump ball was in Fairland's favor.

Todd Maynard took the inbounds pass and pushed the ball quickly up the floor and found Johnson standing alone behind the arc. Johnson put up the shot and swished it at the buzzer to give the Dragons the win.

Fairland was down as many as 7 points in the fourth quarter, but the Hornets missed several foul shots that allowed Fairland to get back in the game.

"We had our chances to win," Hornets coach Darrell Humphreys said. "Give Johnson credit for making the play to help his team win. When you get beat on a 30-footer, you have to tip your hat to them."

Maynard had 14 points and Kyle Wise 10 to lead the Dragons (3-8, 2-2).

"Josh Moore played an incredible game, and Daniel Spears always gives a strong performance," Belville said.

Randy Wise scored 17 points and Justin Hyland 12 to lead the Hornets. Jimmy Lemon had seven rebounds.

Coal Grove fell to 6-5 overall and one-half game behind Chesapeake in the OVC at 4-1.

Fairland819815-50

Coal Grove1015148-47

FAIRLAND (3-8, 2-2):

Kyle Wise 2-6 (2-6) 0-0 10, Josh Johnson 2-3 (1-1) 0-0 7, Michael Spence 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Travis Cardwell 1-3 (1-3) 0-3 5, J.B. Smith 1-1 (0-0) 0-1 2, Todd Maynard 4-14 (1-2) 3-4 14, Zach Pemberton 1-3 (0-0) 0-0 2, Daniel Spears 1-5 (0-1) 0-0 2, Matt Burd 2-5 (0-0) 0-0 4, Josh Moore 2-2 (0-0) 0-1 4. Totals: 16-42 (5-13)

3-9

50. Fouls: 23. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 21 (Spears 4, Pemberton 4, Cardwell 4). Assists: 10 (Spears 3, Maynard 3, Johnson 3). Turnovers: 18.

COAL GROVE (6-5, 4-1):

Zach Huber 1-1 (0-0) 0-3 2, Evan Melvin 0-1 (0-0) 0-0 , Matt Melvin 0-2 (0-0) 0-0 0, Justin Hyland 3-8 (0-0) 6-7 12, Randy Wise 2-9 (2-2) 7-10 17, Tyler Sexton 2-7 (0-0) 0-2 4, Jimmy Lemon 2-3 (0-0) 0-1 4, Adam Bare 2-4 (0-0) 4-4 8. Totals: 12-35 (2-2)

17-27

47. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None. Turnovers: 31. Rebounds: 26 (Lemon 7). Assists: 7.