Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — Better keep checking the AEP meter at Fairland High School.
Fairland may be using some extra power all season if Thursday’s season opener is any indication of what will follow after the Dragons routed the Nicholas County (W.Va.) Grizzlies 85-60 on Thursday in the Buckeye Elite Classic at Portsmouth High School.
“We played pretty well. The energy was there. The effort was there. We moved the ball well,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed.
Ball movement helped the Dragons place six players in double figures led by Kollin Van Horn with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Keedrick Cunningham had 14 points and 8 rebounds, Luke Thomas and Isaiah Howell scored 12 each, and Gunner Short and Ty Staten each scored 11.
Howell also had 5 assists while Cunningham had 3 assists and 2 seals. Staten had 2 steals.
Luke LeRose and Nick Nutter scored 21 points for the Grizzlies (0-2).
Staten had 7 points in the first quarter as Fairland erupted on the offensive end to lead 26-11.
Van Horn and Cunningham scored 4 points each in the second quarter and it was 42-25 at the half.
“Defensively we gave up more points than we wanted,” said Speed. “In the first half we had nine turnovers so we got better in the second half with four. We definitely have to improve from the foul line.”
Fairland hosts Huntington at 8:45 p.m. on Saturday in the Big E Classic.
The Classic begins at 10 a.m. with the Dragons’ jayvees playing the Chesapeake jayvees.
Ironton plays Huntington St. Joe at 11:45, South Webster faces Belpre at 1:30, Chesapeake battles Athens at 3:15 and the Fairland girls meet North Adams at 6:45.
Fairland       26    16    26    11    =    85
Nicholas Co.      11    14    20    15    =    60
FAIRLAND (1-0): Ty Staten 5-6 0-0 1-1 11, Luke Thomas 0-2 2-5 6-7 12, Isaiah Howell 4-4 1-4 1-2 12, Kollin Van Horn 5-10 0-0 6-10 16, Matt Mondlak 0-0 0-0 2-2 2, Keedrick Cunningham  6-8 0-0 2-8 14, Dairus Stapelton 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Riley Sowards 0-0 1-1 0-0 3, Ian Chinn 0-0 0-0 2-2 2, Gunner Short 2-6 1-5 4-5 11, Chase Fisher 1-3 0-0 0-0 2, Totals: 28-54 24-37 85. 3-point goals: 5-15. Rebounds: 41 (Van Horn 10, Howell 8, Cunningham 8). Assists: 15 (Howell 5, Cunningham 3). Steals: 5 (Staten 2, Cunningham 2). Turnovers: 13. Fouls 13. Fouled out: None.
NICHOLAS COUNTY (0-2): Luke LeRose 8-14 1-5 2-2 21, Tanner Huffman 1-2 1-8 0-0 5, Jacob Holliday 1-3 0-0 0-0 2, Nick Nutter 2-5 4-10 3-3 21, Nate Hamilton 0-2 0-4 2-2 2, Trey Milam 4-7 0-0 1-2 9. Totals: 22-60 8-9 60. 3-point goals: 6-27. Fouls: 26. Fouled out: LeRose, Milam.