By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PROCTROVILLE — Missing two starters who both happen to be guards and top defenders? For the Fairland Dragons, it was no problem.

Evan Maddox and Nathan Campbell both missed Friday’s Ohio Valley Conference game with injuries, but the Dragons defense shut down the Rock Hill offense as they beat the Redmen 56-21.

“All our guys took it as a challenge to step up. Alec (Warner) played a good game and (Josh) Goodman gave us some good minutes,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed.

“Salyers and Fuller had nice games, too. They both knew they had to step up with Nathan and Evan out.”

Evan Salyers had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists while Blaine Fuller had 15 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals as Fairland improved to 14-4 overall and 7-2 in the OVC.

Fairland took a 15-8 first quarter lead as Salyers scored 8 points. Evan Morris had all 6 of his points for Rock Hill (8-11, 3-6).

Fuller scored 8 points in the second quarter and the defense held the Redmen to a single basket and it was 33-10 at the half.

Salyers came back with 6 points in the third quarter as the lead was extended to 46-16.

On Tuesday, Fairland visits Coal Grove and Rock Hill entertains Chesapeake.

Rock Hill 8 2 6 5 = 21

Fairland 15 18 13 10 = 56

ROCK HILL (8-11, 3-6): Jake Falls 1-3 0-0 0-0 2, Drew Kidd 0-0 0-2 0-0 0, Will McCollister 1-3 1-3 0-0 5, Evan Morris 3-3 0-1 0-0 6, Joey Stidham 0-0 0-1 0-0 0, Austin Collins 0-2 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Hairston 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Trey Wilds 0-3 0-1 0-0 0, Jared Bruce 0-3 0-0 0-2 0, Chandler Haskins 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Laden Delawder 2-3 0-4 2-2 6, Andrew Schwab 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Andy Knipp 1-5 0-0 0-0 2. Totals: 9-35 2-4 21. 3-point goals: 1-12. Rebounds: 22. Assists: 1. Turnovers: 24. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (14-4, 7-2): Thayer Flynn 0-0 0-0 2-4 2, Cody Midkiff 1-3 1-3 5-7 10, Alec Warner 0-0 0-1 0-0 0, Jacob Warner 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Luke Phillips 0-1 0-0 0-2 0, Philip Beaty 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Eric Riley 0-1 1-1 0-0 3, Kyle Raines 2-2 0-1 0-0 4, Blaine Fuller 6-12 0-1 3-4 15, Josh Goodman 2-3 0-0 0-0 4, Evan Salyers 8-16 0-3 0-0 16, Ryan Wooten 1-3 0-0 0-2 2, Dionte Braye 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-51 10-19 56. 3-point goals: 2-10. Rebounds: 29 (Salyers 11, Fuller 10). Assists: 12 (Salyers 5, Fuller 5). Steals: 12 (Fuller 4). Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 4. Fouled out: None.