By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PROCTORVILLE — The Fairland Lady Dragons’ regular season ended with an exclamation point.

The Lady Dragons not only beat the South Point Lady Pointers 53-43 to win the Ohio Valley Conference title outright — their first title since 2001 — but they also capped the school’s first-ever 20-0 regular season.

Fairland’s previous best record was 19-3 in the 2001 season.

“It’s a nice feeling. It’s good to get that undefeated season,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan.

“It was senior night and there was a lot at stake. I tried to keep them calm. We came out and didn’t play like we usually do. We had eight turnovers in the first quarter. But we settled down and then we got back to playing the way we’re capable.”

Although it was senior night, 6-foot-4 sophomore center Terra Stapleton was once again the headliner with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocked shots as the Lady Dragons went 10-0 in the OVC.

Kelsey Riley added 8 points and 7 assists, Kayla Swiger had 5 rebounds and Jaimie Phillips 4 steals.

“We didn’t play a good offensive game, but we played a good defensive game,” said Buchanan. “I felt our defense won the game. We definitely got the job done there.”

Brett Justice had 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Lady Pointers who finished runners-up in the league at 8-2. The other loss was 54-50 earlier at home to the Lady Dragons.

Allison Mitchell added 12 points and Aundrea Bradburn had 5 rebounds.

“Kelsey Riley and Jaimie Phillips held Bradburn to 12 points. They both did a good job. Mitchell is one of the best players in the area,” said Buchanan.

Justice scored 5 points as South Point took a 13-8 first quarter lead. Stapleton had 8 points in the second quarter as Fairland rallied to take a 21-20 halftime lead.

Eryn Khounlavong put South Point up 28-25 in the third quarter with one of her two trifectas in the quarter. But Stapleton scored 11 points and the Lady Dragons rallied to go up for good at 38-31.

Fairland converted 13 of 16 at the foul line in the fourth quarter — Katie Fuller and Riley each went 4-for-4 — to hold off the Lady Pointers and seal the perfect season.

In sectional tournament play, South Point will face Jackson at 8 p.m. next Thursday at Alexander High School while Fairland plays at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Jackson High School against the winner of the Coal Grove-Crooksville game.

South Point 13 7 11 12 = 43

Fairland 8 13 17 15 = 53

SOUTH POINT (14-5, 8-2): Abbey Winkler 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Allison Mitchell 4-6 0-2 4-8 12, Erin Dillow 1-4 0-2 6-8 8, Eryn Khounlavong 0-0 2-9 0-0 6, Brianna Whaley 0-0 0-0 2-2 2, Brett Justice 4-11 1-2 2-8 13, Lakin Adams 1-1 0-0 0-0 2, Aundrea Bradburn 0-6 0-4 0-0 0. Totals: 13-47 14-26 43. 3-point goals: 3-19. Rebounds: 34 (Justice 14, Bradburn 5). Assists: 5 (Mitchell 2, Dillow 2). Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Dillow.

FAIRLAND (20-0, 10-0): Alexis Wright 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Terra Stapleton 12-21 0-0 4-9 28, Katie Fuller 1-3 0-0 4-4 6, Kayla Swiger 0-0 2-2 0-0 6, Jaimie Phillips 1-4 0-0 0-0 2, Chandler Fulks 0-2 0-0 1-2 1, Lauren Poe 0-2 0-1 2-2 2, Kelsey Riley 2-5 0-0 4-4 8, Mackenzie Riley 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Kerie Napier 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-40 15-21 53. 3-point goals: 2-3. Rebounds: 31 (Stapleton 14, Swiger 5). Assists: 17 (K. Riley 7). Steals: 13 (Phillips 4). Blocked shots: 5 (Stapleton 3). Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: K. Riley.