Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WAVERLY — The Northwest Lady Mohawks came into Saturday’s Division III district semifinal playing red-hot.

Instead of continuing the hot streak, they got scorched.

The unbeaten and second-ranked Fairland Lady Dragons came out on fire and built a 26-point halftime lead and coasted to a 90-31 win to earn a trip to next Sunday’s district finals.

Fairland (22-0) hit 33-of-69 shots including 9-of-16 from 3-point range,

“If we shoot the ball like that we’re going to be hard to beat,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan. “We had some missed easy shots in the first quarter and we still scored 22.”

Chandler Fulks lit the fire in the Lady Dragons with 20 points including 14 in the first quarter. She hit three 3-pointers in the quarter as Fairland took a 22-12 lead.

“I was nervous at first. I didn’t think I’d shoot that well and then I got out there and I relaxed,” said Fulks.

Caitlin Stone scored 13 points including three 3-pointers, Kayla Swiger scored 10 off the bench, and Terra Stapleton added 10 points and nine rebounds. Kelsey Riley grabbed 11 rebounds as Fairland dominated the glass 46-29.

The Lady Mohawks were 13-of-45 from the field and 3-of-12 from the arc. They were guilty of 31 turnovers.

Northwest (7-13) had upset two opponents to win the sectional, but Fairland was not about to become another notch on their tournament run.

Brooke Tipton’s layup to start the game gave Northwest its only lead. Fulks countered with a 3-pointer and a 3-point play.

K’Lee McClurg hit her own trifecta to cut the deficit to 6-5. Northwest trailed just 12-10 on a 3-pointer by Tipton before Fairland went on a 10-2 run to close the quarter.

Kayla Swiger came off the bench and drained a trey to start the second quarter and trigger a 20-2 run. Northwest got a 12-footer by Paige Simon at the six-minute mark and didn’t score again until Josee Osborn’s layup with two seconds left in the half.

That burning continued into the second half as Fairland came out with 13 unanswered points to lead 55-16. Stapleton and Haley Woodall scored six points each in the quarter and it was 72-23.

The final score was the Lady Dragons’ biggest lead.

Fairland will play at 4 p.m. next Sunday at the Ohio University Convocation Center against the winner of the Portsmouth West-Oak Hill game in the district finals.

 

Northwest 12 4 7 8 = 31

Fairland 22 20 30 18 = 90

NORTHWEST (7-12): Haleigh Vestine 0 1 0-0 3, Brooke Tipton 2 1 0-0 7, Rachel Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0, Ashley Riley 2 0 0-2 4, K’Lee McClurg 0 1 0-0 3, Paige Simon 3 0 0-0 6, Mandi Kider 1 0 0-0 2, Josee Osborn1 0 2-2 4, Kelsee Lewis 1 0 0-0 2, Nicole Barney 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13-45 2-4 31. 3-point goals: 3-12. Rebounds: 6 offense, 23 defense = 29 (McClurg 5, R. Jenkins 4). Team rebounds: 9. Assists: 6 (Riley 3). Steals: 4. Turnovers: 31. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (21-0): Terra Stapleton 4 0 2-2 10, Chandler Fulks 5 3 1-1 20, Kelsey Riley 3 0 1-2 3, Caitlin Stone 2 3 0-0 13, Taylor Perry 2 0 4-4 8, Mariah Chaffin 0 0 1-2 1, Kayla Swiger 0 3 1-4 10, Mackenzie Riley 0 0 1-4 1, Haley Woodall 4 0 0-0 8, Pieper Lewis 0 0 0-0 0, Mollie Morris 1 0 3-3 5, Briana Dickess 1 0 0-0 2, Taylor Staten 0 0 0-1 0, Mandi Kazee 0 0 0-0 0, Jenna Fulks 2 0 1-2 5. Totals: 3-69 15-24 90. 3-point goals: 9-16. Rebounds: 20 offense, 26 defense = 46 (K. Riley 11, Stapleton 9). Team rebounds: 2. Assists: 9 (K. Riley 3, Stapleton 2, Stone 2). Steals: 21 (Stone 4, C. Fulks 3). Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.