By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Coach Nathan Speed had a decision to make, to he let Evan Maddox make it.

Speed elected not to take a time out in the final seconds and turn Maddox loose to run the offensive play. Maddox drove the lane and hit a runner in the lane with two seconds left to give the Fairland Dragons a 63-61 win over the Spring Valley Timberwolves Thursday in the Huntington St. Joe Invitational.

“They just made a big play, they were celebrating, they had no timeouts and I decided not to take a timeout and let them get organized,” said Speed.

“We ran a four low. It’s something we work on. We clear out for Maddox and let him penetrate and kick off if he can. We’re just trying to find a mismatch.”

Elijah Wellman converted a 3-point play with nine seconds left to tie the game. Fairland then inbounded the all and Maddox raced the ball up the court for the winning play.

Evan Salyers had 19 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Dragons (11-2) who will play Chesapeake at 9 p.m. Saturday in the Gold Bracket championship.

Maddox had 13 points and 4 assists. Eric Riley had 7 rebounds and Nathan Campbell 5 steals.

Eli Parker and Hunger Waugh led Spring Valley (3-9) with 14 points each.

Fairland 16 13 11 23 = 63

Spring Valley 10 16 11 24 = 61

FAIRLAND (11-2): Cody Midkiff 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Alec Warner 0-2 2-2 0-0 6, Eric Riley 1-5 0-0 5-8 7, Evan Maddox 4-5 1-4 2-2 13, Blaine Fuller 1-6 0-0 6-10 8, Nathan Campbell 2-4 0-1 3-4 7, Evan Salyers 7-11 0-0 5-7 19, Ryan Wooten 0-1 1-1 0-0 3. Totals: 19-45 21-31 63. 3-point goals: 4-10. Rebounds: 27 (Riley 7, Salyers 7). Assists: 12 (Maddox 4). Steals: 7 (Campbell 5). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

SPRING VALLEY (3-9): Tyler Robertson 0-0 0-2 0-0 0, James Keyser 3-5 0-1 0-0 6, Greg Herbert 0-0 0-0 2-2 2, Eli Parker 5-9 1-3 1-1 14, Jacob Campbell 2-6 0-2 0-0 4, Hunter Waugh 4-6 1-1 3-3 14, Elijah Wellman 3-6 0-0 3-3 9, Jacob Kilgore 1-5 0-0 0-0 2, Colton Brewer 1-1 2-3 2-2 10. Totals: 23-50 11-11 61. 3-point goals: 4-12. Rebounds: 25 (Parker 10). Assists: 5 (Parker 3). Steals: 5 (Waugh 3). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.