Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — Monday’s Ohio Valley Conference game was like an elevator ride for the Fairland Lady Dragons.

Fortunately, they stopped on the top floor.

The Lady Dragons overcame an up and down performance to beat the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 62-45.

“We played great at times, and at other times we didn’t play so good. We were just up and down. We’d get over a 20-point lead and then go back down,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan.

Playing up was Mackenzie Riley with 17 points to lead the Lady Dragons (2-2, 1-1). Caitlin Stone scored 15 points and Kelsey Riley 10.

“We had good scoring balance. That’s something we’ve done pretty well so far,” said Buchanan.

Jacy Jones had 18 points while Emily Compliment and Summer Willis scored 8 each for Coal Grove (2-1, 2-1).

“We played some of our best basketball in spots. My main complaint is we fouled a ton. We gave up some things that we worked on,” said Buchanan.

“But I thought Jacy played a good game. She always plays good against us.”

Emily Chapman scored all 8 of her points in the first quarter as Fairland jumped out to a 25-8 lead.

But Jones had 9 points in the second quarter as the Lady Hornets cut the deficit to 36-23 at the half.

Stone had 11 points in the third quarter as Fairland opened up a 49-32 lead.

Mackenzie Riley had 9 points in the fourth quarter as each team scored 13 points. Willis had 6 of her 8 points in the quarter.

Fairland plays at South Point Thursday in a varsity-only game beginning at 7 p.m.

Coal Grove 8 15 9 13 = 45

Fairland 25 11 13 13 = 62

COAL GROVE (2-1, 2-1): Jacy Jones 4 1 7-10 18, Sydney Conley 0 0 0-0 0, Kaylee Beals 0 0 0-0 0, Emily Compliment 2 0 4-9 8, Leah Crum 0 2 1-7 7, Leslie Mulkey 1 0 0-0 2, Kasey Murphy 1 0 0-0 2, Summer Willis 3 0 2-4 8, Maddy McKenzie 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 3 14-30 45. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (2-2, 1-1): Emily Chapman 1 2 0-0 8, Maddy Kazee 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Staten 0 0 0-0 0, Donielle Edwards 0 0 0-0 0, Mackenzie Riley 7 0 3-5 17, Warnock 0 0 0-0 0, Kesley Riley 5 0 0-0 10, Caitlin Stone 3 3 0-0 15, Whitney Huff 0 0 0-0 0, Jenna Fulks 3 0 4-6 10, Alesha Simpson 0 0 2-2 2. Totals: 19 5 9-13 62. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.