By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

PROCTORVILLE — There was a big reason why the Fairland Dragons beat the Coal Grove Hornets. His name is Evan Salyers.

The Dragons’ 6-foot-4 junior center had 24 points and five rebounds as they beat the Hornets 74-48 Tuesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“Evan Salyers played really well. He played they way he can play,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed.

Salyers scored nine points in the first quarter as Fairland (8-5, 3-1) went ahead 17-6.

Jonthan Holbrook scored all six of his points in the second quarter as Fairland pulled away to a 35-18 halftime lead.

Salyers came back to score 13 more points in the third quarter and the lead ballooned to 57-31.

Although Salyers was the only Fairland player in double figures, Jon Baise scored nine points while Chad Fisher had eight points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Evan Maddox and Matt Campbell also had four assists while Holbrook had five rebounds.

Devin Monnier scored 20 points — 13 in the fourth quarter — to lead the Hornets (2-12 0-4). He also had three rebounds while Rye Goodwin had three assists.

Coal Grove 6 12 13 17 = 48

Fairland 17 18 22 17 = 74

COAL GROVE (2-12, 0-4): Boo Woods 2 0 1-2 5, Rye Goodwin 1 0 1-2 3, Jacob Pauley 1 0 1-2 3, Austin Barker 1 1 2-4 7, Devin Monnier 6 2 2-4 20, Conor Markins 0 1 3-4 6, Bryan Jenkins 1 0 0-0 2, Cameron Rowe 0 0 0-0 0, Colton Bryant 1 0 0-0 2, Trevor Barrett 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-35 10-18 48. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 4-8. Rebounds: 13 (Monnier 3). Assists: 3 (Goodwin 3). Steals: 1. Turnovers: 20.

FAIRLAND (8-5, 3-1): Jon Baise 1 2 1-1 9, Chad Fisher 2 1 1-2 8, Alec Warner 0 0 1-2 1, Tanner Schenewark 2 0 0-0 4, Thayer Flynn 0 0 1-2 1, Eric Riley 1 0 0-0 2, Kyle Raines 1 0 0-0 2, Evan Maddox 1 0 0-0 2, Blaine Fuller 2 0 0-0 4, Jonathan Holbrook 2 0 2-2 6, Josh Goodman 0 0 4-5 4, Matt Campbell 2 0 0-0 4, Evan Salyers 8 0 8-11 24, Ryan Wooten 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 28-56 18-25 74. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 3-13. Rebounds: 30 (Salyers 5, Fisher 5, Holbrook 5). Assists: 17 (Maddox 4, Fisher 4, Campbell 4). Steals: 9 (Baise 2, Fisher 2). Turnovers: 14.