By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Fairland coach Nathan Speed might have a solution for the Dragons’ slow starts.

For the second straight game the Dragons struggled in the first half, then caught fire in the second half en route to an 81-59 win over the Huntington St. Joe Fighting Irish on Friday.

“I think we need to start our warm-ups 30 minutes before the game instead of 20 minutes,” said Speed with a chuckle.

“But the difference in the second half was because we started attacking and finishing around the basket. I think we missed seven foul shots in the first half that could have helped.”

Evan Salyers had another big game for the Dragons with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Blaine Fuller also played well with 20 points and 8 rebounds and Evan Maddox added 9 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals.

Josh Pierson had 29 points to lead the Irish (0-2) with 22 coming in the second half. Payne Meadows added 15.

“Eric Riley did a good job on Pierson the first half, but he got in foul trouble,” said Speed.

Fuller had 8 points in the first quarter help put Fairland ahead 19-16.

Salyers scored 7 points in the second quarter and the lead was 33-28 at the break.

Pierson got going with 10 points in the third quarter, but Salyers used his size and strength to scored 10 for the Dragons as the lead grew to 58-42.

Salyers got 6 more points in the fourth quarter to help offset 12 by Pierson as Fairland continued to pull away.

Fairland 19 14 25 23 = 81

Hunt. St. Joe 16 12 14 17 = 59

FAIRLAND (2-0): Cody Midkiff 3-3 0-0 0-0 6, Alec Warner 1-1 0-0 0-0 2, Luke Phillips 1-1 0-0 0-0 2, Thayer Flynn 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Phillip Beaty 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Eric Riley 3-8 0-0 1-3 7, Kyle Raines 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Evan Maddox 1-3 1-2 4-69, Blaine Fuller 9-12 0-0 2-4 20, Josh Goodman 2-2 0-0 0-0 4, Nathan Campbell 1-3 0-2 0-2 2, Evan Salyers 11-17 0-0 7-8 29, Ryan Wooten 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 33-57 14-23 81. 3-point goals: 1-6. Rebounds: 40 (Salyers 10, Fuller 8, Maddox 8). Assists: 15 (Campbell 5). Steals: 7 (Riley 4, Maddox 3). Turnovers: 16. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Maddox.

HUNTINGTON ST. JOSEH (0-2): Josh Pierson 8-14 4-8 1-3 29, Ian Clark 1-2 0-1 0-0 2, Zach Doughtery 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Michael Mays 2-8 0-3 0-3 4, Laken Brooks 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Anthony Rabel 1-3 0-0 3-3 5, Paul Dransfeld 2-5 0-0 0-0 4, Payne Meadows 3-6 2-5 3-6 15. Totals: 23-57 7-15 59. 3-point goals: 6-17. Rebounds: 12. Steals: 7. Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.