By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

This time the little guys came up big.

With center Terra Stapleton in foul trouble in the first half, the Fairland Lady Dragons used strong guard play to ignite a 67-36 rout of the East Carter Lady Raiders Saturday at the Ironton Shootout.

Kayla Swiger came off the bench when Stapleton got in foul trouble and scored 12 points while three other guards combined for 11 points to help keep Fairland unbeaten in 16 games.

“This game speaks well of our guards. We handled their pressure well,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan.

“Swiger has been sick and missed three days of school, but she had her best game of the year. She played well.”

Stapleton still managed to have a big game as she scored 28 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked 8 shots.

Fairland led 10-5 at the end of the first quarter and Stapleton picked up her second foul with 7:11 left in the half and went to the bench.

But Swiger scored 10 points in the quarter and the Lady Dragons used a 14-3 run to take a 31-17 halftime lead.

“Our best player went out and our other players were able to extend the lead. I was happy with that,” said Buchanan.

The Lady Dragons used a 20-0 run that spilled over from the third quarter into the fourth stanza to continue to pull away. Stapleton scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and the defense held East Carter to 9 points.

Megan Stickler had 12 points for the Lady Raiders (13-11) who were just 3 of 23 from the 3-point line.

Fairland is at Portsmouth Clay on Monday and faces Oak Hill at noon on Saturday at Chesapeake High School in the Addidas Classic.

East Carter 5 12 10 9 = 36

Fairland 10 21 20 16 = 67

EAST CARTER (13-11): Krista Mayo 0-2 1-7 2-2 5, Brianna Greenhill 0-1 0-1 0-2 0, Haley Hall 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Megan Stickler 1-8 1-4 7-11 12, Sarah Boggs 1-1 0-0 0-0 2, Kelsey Stumbo 3-9 0-0 2-4 8, Kaylee Limings 2-4 0-0 0-2 4, Abby Damron 0-0 0-4 0-1 0, Alexis Pennington 0-1 1-4 0-1 3, Taylor Thornbury 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Ashley Bays 0-0 0-3 0-1 0, Carina Gee 0-1 0-0 2-2 2. Totals: 10-50 13-26 36. 3-point goals: 3-23. Rebounds: 32 (Stickler 6, Stumbo 4, Gee 4). Assists: 7 (Pennington 2, Gee 2). Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (16-0): Alexis Wright 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Terra Stapleton 11-19 0-0 6-6 28, Katie Fuller 1-1 0-0 1-2 3, Kayla Swiger 4-5 1-1 1-1 12, Jaimie Phillips 3-5 0-0 0-0 6, Brianna Dickess 1-1 0-1 0-0 2, Chandler Fulks 2-4 0-1 0-0 4, Taylor Staten 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Lauren Poe 1-2 0-1 0-0 2, Kelsey Riley 2-7 0-0 0-0 4, Caitlin Stone 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Mackenzie Riley 1-1 0-0 0-0 2, Hayley Woodall 1-1 0-0 0-0 2, Jenna Fulks 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Kerie Napier 1-1 0-0 0- 2. Totals: 29-52 8-9 67. 3-point goals: 1-4. Rebounds: 45 (Stapleton 14, K. Riley 9, M. Riley 5, Phillips 5). Assists: 19 (K. Riley 6, Fuller 4). Steals: 6 (Fuller 2). Turnovers: 12. Blocked shots: 12 (Stapleton 8). Fouls: 21. Fouled out: None.