By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

BIDWELL — If Fairland coach Jon Buchanan goes to Kings Island, he can be forgiven if he decides not to right the roller-coaster.

Buchanan had a rough ride through a roller-coaster of play by the Lady Dragons Thursday before holding on to beat the River Valley Lady Raiders 45-42 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“The first half was the best we’ve executed our offense all year,” said Buchanan.

“In the second half, we did everything we could to give the game away. It was an exact opposite of the way we play the first half.”

Kayla Swiger scored nine points in the first quarter as Fairland jumped out to an 18-7 lead.

Chandler Fulks had six points in the second quarter as the Lady Dragons built a 31-14 halftime cushion.

River Valley (7-8, 3-4) cut the deficit to 37-24 at the end of the third quarter.

Fairland made things difficult for themselves in the fourth quarter when they finally went to the foul line. The Lady Dragons were just 6 of 17 from the line but managed to survive.

“It wasn’t just one person. It was like a team meltdown, but we managed to pull it together at the end and win,” said Burchanan.

Swiger led Fairland (7-8, 5-2) with 17 points and eight rebounds. Fulks had 15 points while Samantha Lamb grabbed five rebounds and Katie Fuller handed out three assists.

Brooke Marcum — who eclipsed 1,000 career points with her first basket in the game — led River Valley with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Kelsey Sands had 13 points including eight in the fourth quarter. She also had seven rebounds.

The Lady Dragons did shoot 41 percent from the field and the defense held River Valley to just 27 percent including 4 of 24 from the 3-point line.

Fairland 18 13 6 8 = 45

River Valley 7 7 10 18 = 42

FAIRLAND (7-8, 5-2): Katie Fuller 0 0 2-6 2, Kayla Swiger 4 2 3-4 17, Jaimie Phillips 1 0 0-0 2, Chandler Fulks 3 3 0-1 15, Lauren Poe 2 0 1-2 5, Taylor Phillips 0 0 0-0 0, Tori Garrett 0 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Hessel 0 0 0-0 0, Samantha Lamb 1 0 0-2 2, Kerie Napier 1 0 0-2 2. Totals: 17-41 6-17 45. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 5-13. Rebounds: 30 (Swiger 8, Lamb 5). Assists: 8 (Fisher 3).

RIVER VALLEY (7-8, 3-4): Jessica Hager 0 0 0-0 0, Shalin Comer 0 0 0-0 0, Kaitlyn Roberts 0 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Sands 5 0 3-6 13, Alli Neville 2 1 0-0 7, Cady Gilmore 0 1 0-1 3, Beth Misner 0 2 1-2 7, Brooke Marcum 3 0 6-7 12. Totals: 14-51 10-16 42. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Neville. 3-point goals: 4-24. Rebounds: 31 (Marcum 12, Sands 7).