Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

LOGAN — Maybe the third time is the charm.

The past two trips to the Division III regional tournament ended with first-round losses. The Fairland Lady Dragons took the extra step Wednesday and are now just one more step from the state tournament.

The Lady Dragons took a big lead to start the game and went on to beat the Greenfield McClain Lady Tigers 64-42 to reach the regional finals.

Fairland (21-3) now faces Sugarcreek Garaway at 1:30 p.m. Saturday for the regional championship and a berth in the Final Four.

Garaway (23-3) beat Nelsonville-York 47-44 in the other semifinal game.

The Lady Dragons used a balanced offense and tough defense to put away the Lady Tigers.

Terra Stapleton had 14 points, five rebounds and seven blocked shots while Taylor Perry had 13 points and eight rebounds to lead Fairland. Kelsey Riley had 11 points and eight rebounds and Caitlin Stone 11 points.

McClain (15-8) was led by Shania Massey with 19 points and five rebounds. Katy Unger had 12 points and six rebounds.

Fairland jumped out to a 12-0 including a pair of foul shots and a layup by Stapleton at the 1:50 mark.

McClain finally scored on a basket by Unger with 1:22 left in the first quarter and it was 12-2.

The Lady Tigers had 10 of their 22 turnovers in the first quarter and shot 2-of-13 from the field.

Massey hit a 3-pointer and it was 13-5, but Stone answered with a 3-pointer for Fairland and was fouled on the play. Stone hit the foul shot to complete the four-point play and the lead was 17-5.

Perry hit a jumper at the buzzer and Fairland had opened up a 19-5 lead.

Perry opened the second quarter with a basket and it was 21-5.

Taylor Polley drilled a triple for McClain but Riley scored and it was 23-8.

The 6-foot-4 Stapleton picked up her second foul, but the Lady Dragons still managed to pull away to a 29-14 lead.

Massey stole the ball and was fouled intentionally. She hit the two free throws and it was 29-16.

Sarah Thompson hit a foul shot and Polley sank two foul shots as McClain cut the deficit 29-19 with 1:43 on the clock. But Riley made two foul shots and the lead was 31-19 with 25 seconds left in the half.

Unger scored to start the second half and it was 31-21, but Fairland wasn’t having any of McClain’s comeback hopes.

Stone made a 3-pointer to trigger a 17-0 run. Perry turned a turnover into a layup for a 36-21 lead.

Massey’s triple made it 36-24 but Perry’s steal and layup extended the lead to 38-24. Stone hit another 3-pointer and it was 41-24. Stapleton’s putback gave Fairland a 44-24 lead with 3:31 to play in the quarter.

Stapleton had two more baskets inside and the lead ballooned to 48-24. The Lady Dragons outscored McClain 21-9 in the quarter to build a 52-28 cushion as they coasted to the win.

McClain 5 14 9 14 = 42

Fairland 19 12 21 12 = 64

GREENFIELD McCLAIN (15-8): Beth Montgomery 1 0 0-0 2, Alison Willett 0 0 1-3 1, Taylor Polley 0 1 2-2 5, Lauren Rayburn 0 0 0-0 0, Shania Massey 1 3 7-11 18, Sarah Thompson 0 0 1-2 1, Katy Unger 5 0 2-2 12, Tara Karnes 1 0 1-2 3. Totals: 12-47 14-22 42. 3-point goals: 4-12. Rebounds: 30 (Unger 6, Massey 5). Turnovers: 22. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (21-3): Terra Stapleton 6 0 2-2 14, Chandler Fulks 1 1 1-2 6, Kelsey Riley 3 0 5-9 11, Caitlin Stone 0 3 2-3 11, Taylor Perry 5 0 3-4 13, Mackenzie Riley 3 0 3-4 9, Bri Dickess 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Staten 0 0 0-0 0, Jenna Fulks 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-47 16-24 64. 3-point goals: 4-11. Rebounds: 33 (K. Riley 8, Perry 8, Stapleton 5). Turnovers: 20. Fouls: 20 Fouled out: Stone, Stapleton.

 

Garaway 47, Nelsonville-York 44

Garaway 4 12 11 20 = 47

Nelsonville 10 10 8 16 = 44

SUGARCREEK GARAWAY (23-3): Katie Walter 1 0 6-6 8, Courtney Putt 5 0 5-6 15, Izzy Meese 2 0 0-2 4, Kendra Miller 3 1 0-0 9, Katelyn Miller 0 1 1-2 4, Courtney Werker 1 1 0-0 5. Totals: 16-42 12-16 47. 3-point goals: 3-13. Rebounds: 28 (Ke. Miller 8). Assists: 6 (Meese 4). Turnovers: 21. Fouls: 13.

NELSONVILLE-YORK (17-6): Angela Meade 1 1 0-0 5, Brooke Breeze 3 0 0-0 6, Madison Davis 9 0 0-1 18, Jennah Addis 0 1 3-4 6, Kaitlyn Hurd 3 0 3-4 9, Tori Campbell 0 0 0-0 0, Samantha Taylor 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-43 6-9 44. 3-point goals: 2-9. Rebounds: 28 (Davis 8). Assists: 7 (Addis 3). Turnovers: 26. Fouls: 15