By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PROCTORVILLE — The Gallipolis game plan was to slow down 6-foot-4 Fairland center Terra Stapleton.

Time to make a new plan.

Despite the focus of the Blue Angels’ defense, Stapleton scored 27 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Fairland Lady Dragons to a 57-40 win on Monday.

“By far, that was the most attention (Stapleton) has gotten. They had one in front and one behind but they still couldn’t stop her,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan.

“With all the attention they gave her, the other kids stepped up.”

Stapleton was 12-of-15 from the floor as she made half of Fairland’s shots.

Kayla Swiger added 11 points for the Lady Dragons (3-0). Chandler Fulks had 9 points and 6 assists.

Mattie Lanham scored 10 points to pace the Blue Angels.

The game was tied 9-9 at the end of the first quarter and Fairland led just 28-27 at the half.

Stapleton had 9 points and Swiger 8 in the second quarter as Fairland outscored Gallipolis 19-18.

Gallipolis hit 4-of-5 from behind the arc in the first half to stay close. But the Blue Angels were 0-of-4 in the second half and scored just 13 points in the second half.

But Stapleton scored 10 points and Kelsey Riley had all 6 of her points in the third quarter as Fairland built a 46-31 lead.

“We stepped up our pressure in the second half,” said Buchanan. “One of the things I wrote down before the game was to make sure we didn’t come out flat, but we did and Gallipolis made us pay for it.

Fairland plays at River Valley on Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Gallipolis 9 18 4 9 = 40

Fairland 9 19 18 11 = 57

GALLIPOLIS (1-6): Abby Wiseman 0-0 1-1 0-0 3, Heather Ward 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Ciera Jackson 2-6 0-0 3-8 7, Brittany Lloyd 2-5 0-0 4-4 8, Kasey Grate 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Halley Barnes 2-4 0-0 0-0 4, Mattie Lanham 1-3 1-1 5-6 10, Kendra Barnes 0-3 2-7 0-1 6, Megan Cochran 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Violet Pelphrey 1-2 0-0 0-0 2, Jessica Dotson 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-33 12-19 40. 3-point goals: 4-9. Rebounds: 26 (H. Barnes 5, Jackson 5). Assists: 5. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (3-0): Alex Wright 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Terra Stapleton 12-15 0-0 3-4 27, Katie Fuller 0-2 0-1 0-0 0, Kayla Swiger 1-9 2-5 3-5 11, Jaimie Phillips 0-2 0-0 0-0 0, Brianna Dickess 1-2 0-0 0-0 2, Chandler Fulks 3-5 1-4 0-0 9, Taylor Staten 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Lauren Poe1-4 0-0 0-0 2, Kelsey Riley 3-5 0-0 0-0 6, Caitlin Stone 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Tori Garrett 0-2 0-1 0-0 0, Mackenzie Riley 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Haley Woodall 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Keri Napier 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 24-57 6-9 57. 3-point goals: 3-11. Rebounds: 32 (Stapleton 16, K. Riley 4). Steals: 10 (Phillips 2, Fuller 2, Poe 2). Blocked shots: 5 (Stapleton 5). Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.