Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTOVILLE — This is one time Fairland Dragons’ coach Nathan Speed wouldn’t have complained if his team disobeyed the speed limit.

The Dragons built a 20-point lead and then held on for a 61-59 win over the Huntington St. Joe Fighting Irish on Tuesday.

“We have to learn not to take our foot off the accelerator. When you get a big lead, you can’t ease up,” said Speed.

“I thought Tyler Campbell had his best game and he kept us going when things started to go bad.”

Fairland (9-2) had taken a 32-22 halftime lead and led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter.

But the Irish (6-5) began a comeback and got within 49-35 at the end of the third quarter and tied the game at 55.

But Chance Short put the Dragons ahead 57-55 and they never lost the lead. Short scored 6 points in the quarter.

Short scored 16 points and had 5 rebounds to lead four Dragons in double figures. Isaiah Howell had 12 points while Tyler Campbell and Kollin Van Horn scored 10 points each.

Nathan Campbell had 7 rebounds, Howell 6, Van Horn 5 and Ty Staten added 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

Deundra Murphy scored 26 points for the Irish who were 21 of 24 at the foul line.

Hunt. St. Joe 8 14 13 24 = 59

Fairland 17 15 17 12 = 61

HUNTINGTON ST. JOSEPH (6-5): Iain Clarke 4 0 3-4 11, Travis McNeal 0 3 4-4 13, Deundra Murphy 5 2 10-12 26, John Morrison 0 0 0-0 0, Owen Hoffman 1 0 4-4 6, Hunter Adams 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 16-48 21-24 59. 3-point goals: 6-19. Rebounds: 22. Turnovers: 3. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (9-2): Chance Short 5 2 0-3 16, Gunner Short 0 2 0-0 6, Isaiah Howell 5 0 2-2 12, Nathan Campbell 1 0 0-0 2, Ty Staten 1 0 0-0 2, Luke Thomas 0 0 0-0 0, Darius Stapleton 0 0 0-0 0, Hayden James 0 1 0-0 3, Tyler Campbell 5 0 0-0 10, Kollin Van Horn 5 0 0-2 10. Totals: 27-59 2-7 61. 3-point goals: 5-16. Rebounds: 37 (N. Campbell 7, Staten 6, Van Horn 5, C. Short 5). Assists: 13 (Staten 4). Steals: 1. Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.