Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — Now that’s how you double down.
The Fairland Dragons had four players in double figures as they beat the Huntington Highlanders 71-65 in the Big E Classic on Saturday.
“We beat a good team. That’s a nice win for our kids,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed. “I thought we stepped it up a notch in the second half. It was a good team effort. Everyone contributed.”
The Dragons were led by Gunner Short with 21 points and Luke Thoams with 19.
Kollin Van Horn and Keedrick Cunningham scored 11 points each, Ty Staten had 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals while Isaiah Howell had 9 rebounds and 4 assists.
Mikal Dawson scored 21 and 8 rebounds points to lead four Huntington players in double figures. Chris Thornburg scored 13, Tanner Stevens 12 and Grant Subik 11.
Huntington took a 16-12 first quarter lead despite 7 points by Van Horn.
After Van Horn got into early foul trouble, Dawson had 6 points in the second quarter but Short pumped in 10 points as Fairland got within 29-28 at the half.
Thomas came out with the hot hand in the third quarter as he hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points and the Dragons grabbed a 46-43 lead.
The pace picked up in the fourth quarter as Fairland outscored the Highlanders 25-22.
Short had 9 more points and Thomas drilled a pair of 3-pointers to offset 8 points by Thornburg and a pair triples by Subik.
The Dragons were 5-of-7 from the foul line in the fourth quarter with Short going 3-for-3.
“We did a better job at the foul line, especially down the stretch when the game was on the line,” said Speed.
Fairland visits Rock Hill on Tuesday.
Huntington    16    13    14    22    =    65
Fairland    12    16    18    25    =    71
HUNTINGTON (0-1): Jadon Hayes 2-2 1-1 00 7, Grant Subik 1-5 3-8 0-1 11, Chris Thornburg 1-7 3-6 2-4 13, Mikal Dawson 8-15 1-5 2-2 21, Tanner Stevens 2-4 2-5 2-2 12, Dewey Brown 0-4 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 24-59 7-11 65. 3-point goals: 10-22. Rebounds: 22 (Dawson 8). Assists: 4. Steals: 3. Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Brown.
FAIRLAND (2-0): Ty Staten 1-4 0-0 3-4 5, Luke Thomas 2-3 5-10 0-1 19, Isaiah Howell 2-3 0-5 0-1 4, Kollin Van Horn 4-7 0-0 3-3 11, Keedrick Cunningham 4-5 0-1 3-6 11, Dairus Stapleton 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Gunner Short 6-8 2-6 3-3 21, Matt Mondlak 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 26-53 12-18 71. 3-point goals: 7-22. Rebounds: 32 (Staten 10, Howell 8). Assists: 12 (Howell 4, Thomas 3, Staten 3). Steals: 6 (Staten 2). Turnovers: 12. Blocked shots: 7 (Van Horn 7). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.