Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — The Fairland Lady Dragons felt like they needed a signature win to help for the sectional tournament seeding.

Well, sign here.

The Lady Dragons picked up a big non-league win on Saturday as they rallied late to tie the game and then beat the Ashland Kittens 74-68 in overtime at the annual Tri-State Hoops Classic.

“We felt like we needed a signature win (for the tournament drawing). To get this one, we feel really good about it,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan.

Fairland (12-2) trailed by 14 points with 3:51 to play when they began their comeback.

After Ashland missed the front end of a one-and-one with seven seconds on the clock, a 3-point goal by Taylor Perry as time expired tied the game at 60 and sent it into overtime where the Lady Dragons outscored Ashland 14-8.

“We called a time out and I just told the girls to extend the game. Make this 3:50 go 30 minutes,” said Buchanan.

“We got it to where we were down nine, and then we quickly got it to five,” said Buchanan. “When we got it to five and then our girls really believed they could do it.”

Perry finished with 25 points while Emily Chapman scored 18 points. The guard duo combined for seven 3-point goals.

“Offensively, we did a pretty good job,” said Buchanan. “We had some kids play really well. Our kids are growing up. Having Taylor Perry around as a senior leader has been huge.”

Ashland sophomore Mykassa Robinson — rated as the No. 5 sophomore player in the country — finished with 42 points.

Robinson was 16-of-21 from the foul line with 14 of those coming in the fourth quarter and overtime periods.

“We didn’t have an answer for her. We tried to keep her out of the paint, we tried to double her, we tried everything we could,” said Buchanan.

“Our kids are going to see her going to see her play on TV at the college level and they’re going to be able to talk about playing against her in a heck of a game and getting a win.”

Ashland (8-9) led 19-10 after the first quarter and then Fairland cut the deficit to 33-25 at the half.

The Kittens led 47-38 after three quarters and 60-51 with 2:19 to go in regulation. Perry and Chapman combined for nine points in a 9-0 run to close out the quarter and send the game into overtime.

Fairland hosts Coal Grove on Monday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Ashland 19 14 14 13 8 = 68

Fairland 10 15 13 22 14 = 74

ASHLAND (8-9): Mykassa Robinson 10 2 16-21 42, Rachael Barber 0 1 0-1 3, Sarah Rymer 3 0 1-4 7, Madeline Garner 2 3 1-2 14, Sierra Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Julia Parker 1 0 0-0 2, A.J. Johnson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 6 18-28 68. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Rymer.

FAIRLAND (12-2): Allie Marshall 2 0 1-4 5, Taylar Wilson 4 0 0-0 8, Emily Chapman 4 3 1-1 18, Morgan Fridley 0 0 0-0 0, Emma Fulton 0 0 2-2 2, Kelsie Warnock 1 0 4-4 6, Taylor Perry 3 4 7-9 25, Tori Hall 1 0 2-2 4, Alesha Simpson 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 17 7 17-22 74. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.