Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — It was Ty for the tie and then team for the win.
Ty Staten hit a pull-up jumper from 8-feet just before time expired in regulation to tie the game and then the Fairland Dragons went on to edge the Athens Bulldogs 81-77 on Saturday in the Beast of the Southeast.
Staten’s clutch basket tied the game at 66 and completed a second half comeback that saw the Dragons fall behind by as many as 14 points.
Keedrick Cunningham hit a 3-pointer in overtime that gave the Dragons a lead and when Athens was forced to foul, Fairland converted its foul shots including 5-of-6 by Isaiah Howell.
Athens (9-3) led 15-14 after the first quarter and 32-24 at the half.
The lead grew to 14 at one time in the third quarter before Fairland closed to within 45-38 heading to the fourth quarter.
Luke Thomas hit a pair of 3-pointers as Fairland got even at 64. Griffin Lutz made a layup to give Athens a 66-64 lead before Staten’s shot.
Howell led the Dragons with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
Thomas scored 21 points including 8-of-8 at the foul line. Cunningham had 19 points and six rebounds and was named the Player of the Game for Fairland (11-1).
Lutz scored a game-high 27 points to go with eight rebounds and five assists for Athens. Justin Hynes scored 20 points and Dalton Cozart had 11.
Fairland’s ability to get to the basket created a plenty of free throw opportunities. The Dragons were 26-of-34 at the line while Athens was 8-of-13.
Athens also had 17 turnovers and Fairland took advantage of those mistakes to score 16 points.
Fairland visits South Point on Tuesday and Chesapeake on Friday.
Athens        15    17    13    21    11    =    77
Fairland    14    10    14    28    15    =    81
ATHENS (9-3): Micah Saltzman 0 0 0-0 0, Griffin Lutz 12 0 3-5 27, Robert Dickelman 0 1 0-0 3, Nick Lutz 2 0 0-0 4, Dalton Cozart 2 2 1-2 11, Logan Maxfield 5 0 2-4 12, Justin Hynes 9 0 2-2 20. Totals: 33-68 8-13 77. 3-point goals: 3-10 Fouls: 24. Fouled out: None.
FAIRLAND (11-1): Ty Staten 1 0 2-4 4, Luke Thomas 2 3 8-8 21, Isaiah Howell 3 3 8-10 23, Joel Lambiotte 0 0 4-4 4, Matt Mondlak 3 0 0-0 6, Keedrick Cunningham 6 1 4-6 19, Gunner Short 2 0 0-0 4, Chase Fisher 0 0 0-2 0. Totals: 24-78 26-32 81. 3-point goals: 7-23. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.