Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — After winning the Ohio Valley Conference the past three season and making a first-ever state tournament appearance last season, one would think the pressure is on the Fairland Lady Dragons.

But it was the Lady Dragons who applied the pressure Thursday as they rolled to a 67-33 OVC win over the South Point Lady Pointers.

“Our pressure was good. We got after with them with some pressure early and a lot of our baskets were transition points,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan.

“We wanted to take away (Abbey) Winkler and (Brooklyn) Badgett. Winkler always plays well against us. To hold Badgett to five points shows we did a pretty good job defensively.”

While the defense did its job, Caitlin Stone led the offense with a career-high 19 points including a personal record of five 3-point goals.

Kelsey Riley added 11 points and Jenna Fulks had 10 points as nine different players scored for Fairland (3-2, 2-1).

Winkler finished with 11 points for the Lady Pointers (1-3, 1-3).

The Lady Dragons left little doubt about the outcome from the start as Riley and Stone scored 8 points each in building a 28-10 lead.

Stone hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter as the lead ballooned to 48-15 at the half.

The lead was 62-24 after three quarters.

Fairland plays defending Division III state champion Columbus Africentric at 6:15 Saturday in the Big E Classic.

South Point will host Cross Lanes (W.Va.) Christian at 7 p.m. on Monday.

Fairland 28 20 14 5 = 67

South Point 10 5 9 9 = 33

FAIRLAND (3-2, 2-1): Emily Chapman 1 1 2-2 7, Maddy Kazee 2 0 1-2 5, Taylor Staten 0 0 0-0 0, Donyele Edwards 0 0 0-0 0, Tayler Wilson 0 0 0-0 0, Morgan Fridley 1 0 0-0 2, Mackenzie Riley 2 0 0-0 4, Issy McKinney 0 0 1-2 1, Sarah Warnock 0 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Riley 5 0 1-2 11, Caitlin Stone 2 5 0-0 19, Nicole Wagner 0 0 0-0 0, Jenna Fulks 5 0 0-0 10, Alesha Simpson 3 0 2-3 8. Totals: 21 6 8-11 67. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (1-3, 1-3): Haley Rawlins 0 0 0-0 0, Emilee Powell 1 1 0-0 5, Ericka Duede 0 0 0-0 0, Brooklyn Badgett 1 0 3-4 5, Leah Lawson 1 1 0-0 5, Olivia Abner 3 0 0-1 6, Miranda Boyd 0 0 0-2, Abbey Winkler 4 1 0-2 11, Abby Hannah 0 0 1-4 1, Adara Deeds 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 3 4-13 33. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.