Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — When you’re hot, you’re hot. And in the case of the Portsmouth Trojans, they were sizzlin’.

The Trojans had the hot shooting hand in all phases of the offense as they beat the Fairland Dragons 71-58 on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

The Trojans connected on 13-of-28 shots from behind the 3-point line for 46.4 percent and were 20-of-36 overall for 55.6 percent. They also converted 18-of-25 from the foul line for 72 percent.

“We did what we wanted to do defensively for the most part, but they were just in one of those shooting zones they’re capable of hitting and made their shots. You’ve got to tip your hat to them,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed.

Fairland was 21-of-52 for 40 percent and 8-of-21 from behind the arc for 38 percent. They were 8-of-14 at the line.

The win enabled the Trojans to keep their OVC title hopes alive. Portsmouth is 15-5 overall and 9-2 in the league, one-half game behind Chesapeake which is 9-1.

Fairland (11-7, 5-5) was led by Chance Short and Kollin Van Horn with 15 points each. Luke Thomas had four 3-pointers and scored 14 points.

Van Horn also had 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. Howell and six rebounds and six assists with Nathan Campbell grabbing five rebounds.

Sky Oliver was 6-of-12 from 3-point land and had 22 points to lead Portsmouth. Ky’re Allison scored 16 points while Alex Dickerson had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Allison had 7 points in the first quarter as Portsmouth went up 18-17. Short scored 10 of the Dragons’ points.

The lead was 32-29 at the half and Oliver got 9 points in the third quarter to extend the lead to 48-41. Van Horn had 7 points for the Dragons.

Gunner Short had 7 of his 9 points in the fourth quarter and Thomas hit back-to-back trifectas, but Oliver had 8 points and the Trojans were 8-of-9 from the foul line to clinch the win.

Fairland visits Wheelersburg on Tuesday. Portsmouth plays at Warren next Friday and visits Rock Hill on Saturday.

Fairland 17 12 12 17 = 58

Portsmouth 18 14 16 23 = 71

FAIRLAND (11-7, 5-5): Chance Short 4 2 1-2 15, Gunner Short 2 1 2-2 9, Isaiah Howell 0 1 1-2 4, Nathan Campbell 0 0 1-2 1, Luke Thomas 1 4 0-0 14, Ty Staten 0 0 0-0 0, Tyler Campbell 0 0 0-0 0, Kollin Van Horn 6 0 3-6 15. Totals: 21-52 8-14 58. 3-point goals: 8-21. Rebounds: 30 (Van Horn 11, Howell 6, N. Campbell 5). Assists: 11 (Howell 6). Steals: 5. Turnovers: 11. Blocked shots: 2 (Van Horn 2). Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH (15-5, 9-2): Sky Oliver 1 6 2-4 22, Ethan Leonard 1 1 2-3 7, Ky’re Allison 3 1 7-8 16, Alex Dickerson 0 3 3-4 12, Kendall Reynolds 1 1 2-2 7, Hunter Gibson 0 0 2-4 2, Luke Purdy 1 0 0-0 2, Cole Lowery 0 1 0-0 3, Zach Delotell 0 0 0-0 0,J.J. Josey 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Sturgill 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-36 18-25 71. 3-point goals: 13-28. Rebounds: 21 (Dickerson 8). Assists: 7 (Oliver 3). Steals: 2. Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.