By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

SOUTH POINT — The Fairland Lady Dragons needed someone to step up. Chandler Fulks didn’t just step up, she took a major leap.

Fulks hit 6-of-9 shots from the 3-point line and scored 20 points as the Lady Dragons took over sole possession of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 54-50 come-from-behind win over the South Point Lady Pointers on Monday.

“Fulks was big for us. She was not afraid of the moment,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan. “There was a nice crowd and it was a big game. She wanted the ball and she wanted to make plays.”

Terra Stapleton also had a big game with 18 points and 8 rebounds as Fairland improved to 12-0 overall and 5-0 in the league.

South Point (8-4, 4-1) was led by Allison Mitchell with 19 points and Brett Justice had 18 points and 10 rebounds.

“We tried to take Stapleton away. We knew Fulks could shoot, but we lost track of her a few times and she hit the shots,” said Lady Pointers’ coach Dave Adams.

Fairland went in front 17-12 in the first quarter as Fulks scored 8 points and Stapleton 6. Justice had 6 for the Lady Pointers.

South Point rebounded in the second quarter and outscored the Lady Dragons 16-5to take a 28-22 halftime lead.

Mitchell scored 8 points in the third quarter as South Point maintained a 41-36 lead. Fulks drained three 3-pointers in the quarter.

The Lady Dragons used a balanced offense as they mounted their comeback in the fourth quarter.

South Point held a 3-point lead with two minutes left, but a steal by Fulks led to a pair of free throws by Jaimie Phillips that put Fairland up 52-48.

Mitchell answered to make it 52-50, but Katie Fuller was fouled with 22 seconds left and hit both free throws and it was 54-50.

The two teams traded turnovers and the lady Pointers were unable to score on their final possession as the game ended.

“If we scored in the first three quarters it was Fulks or Stapleton, but we finally had some kids step up and hit some big shots in the fourth quarter,” said Buchanan. “Swiger, Fuller, Kelsey Riley and Jaimie Phillips all hit some big shots for us.”

Adams said the Lady Pointers were their own worst enemy, but he gave credit to the Lady Dragons.

“We made some mistakes down the stretch, but to their credit they hit some shots and made some free throws,” said Adams.

Fairland faces another key league game at Chesapeake on Wednesday. South Point hosts Rock Hill on Thursday.

Fairland 17 5 14 18 = 54

South Point 12 16 13 9 = 50

FAIRLAND (12-0, 5-0): Terra Stapleton 8-12 0-0 2-3 18, Katie Fuller 1-3 0-0 2-3 4, Kayla Swiger 1-4 0-3 0-0 2, Jaimie Phillips 1-2 0-0 3-4 5, Chandler Fulks 1-4 6-9 0-0 20, Lauren Poe 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Kelsey Riley 1-7 0-0 3-4 5, Mackenzie Riley 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Kerie Napier 0-4 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-46 10-14 54. 3-point goals: 6-12. Rebounds: 26 (Stapleton 8, Fulks 5). Assists: 14 (Fuller 5, K. Riley 4). Steals: 7 (Fuller 3). Blocked shots: 5 (Stapleton 4). Turnovers: 8. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (8-4, 4-1): Abbey Winkler 0-0 1-2 0-0 3, Allison Mitchell 6-9 0-2 7-8 19, Erin Dillow 1-1 1-8 0-1 5, Eryn Khounlavong 0-0 0-1 0-0 0, Brianna Whaley 0-0 1-3 0-0 3, Brett Justice 7-11 1-1 1-4 18, Lakin Adams 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Aundrea Bradburn 0-0 0-4 2-3 2. Totals: 18-42 10-16 50. 3-point goals: 4-21. Rebounds: 30 (Justice 10, Dillow 5). Assists: 8 (Mitchell 4). Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.