Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — There wasn’t much drama left as the Fairland Dragons hosted the Gallipolis Blue Devils on Friday.
Fairland had all ready won the Ohio Valley Conference and the Dragons were expected to beat the Blue Devils easily which they did 88-53.
But the biggest story for Fairland was the return of 6-foot-7 junior center Kollin Van Horn who returned to active duty for the first time since being injured during practice on Jan. 9.
Van Horn was struck in the face and had surgery that kept him sidelined for a month.
Van Horn played 15 minutes and scored 14 points to go with five rebounds, four blocked shots and two assists.
“He looked good. When we went yesterday I thought he might shy away from contact and he was initiating contract. He’s ready to be back. He’s happy to be on the floor again this soon,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed.
Isaiah Howell led the Dragons with 22 points. Luke Thomas and Gunner Short scored 14 points each.
Ty Staten had six rebounds and six assists for Fairland (19-1, 13-0) and Thomas had five assists and three steals.
Speed was pleased that his team didn’t have a letdown despite having the league title all ready secured.
“I felt like we’ve done a better job at the maturity level. We’ve been pretty focused for most of the year. That’s something that I didn’t see last year,” said Speed.
Gallipolis (12-6, 8-4) was led by Evan Wiseman with 19 points.
Short scored 10 points and Howell had nine as Fairland bolted from the starting gate to take a 26-9 first quarter lead.
“We played well. We played with a lot of energy. It was the first time in a long time we came out of the gate with a lot of energy and a lot of focus,” said Speed.

Van Horn came off the bench to a loud ovation and he didn’t disappoint as he scored 10 points in the second quarter and Fairland built a 46-25 halftime cushion.
Howell scored nine more points in the third quarter as the lead ballooned to 75-35.
The backups finished the game with Joel Lambiotte scoring six points.
Gallipolis visits Coal Grove on Monday and Fairland hosts Chesapeake next Friday.
Gallipolis    9    16    10    18    =    53
Fairland    26    20    29    13    =    88
GALLIPOLIS (12-6, 8-4): Miles Cornwell 0 0 0-0 0, Evan Wiseman 4 3 2-4 19, Kaden Thomas 1 1 0-0 5, Blaine Carter 3 0 0-1 6, Dondre Armstrong 2 0 2-2 6, Cory Call 0 0 1-2 1, Gage Harrison 0 2 0-0 6, Justin Peck 2 0 0-0 4, Zach Loveday 2 0 0-0 4, Logan Blour 1 0 0-0 2, Cole Davis 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-48 5-9 53. 3-point goals: 6-17. Rebounds: 7-O, 19-D = 26 (Peck 7, Loveday 7). Assists: 13 (Wiseman 5). Steals: 3 (Loveday 2). Turnovers: 24. Blocked shots: 3 (Loveday 3). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Peck.
FAIRLAND (19-1, 13-0): Ty Staten 2 0 1-3 5, Luke Thomas 2 3 1-1 14, Isaiah Howell 5 4 0-0 22, Joel Lambiotte 3 0 0-0 6, Kolin Van Horn 6 0 2-2 14, Matt Mondlak 1 0 0-2 2, Keedrick Cuningham 4 0 1-5 9, Dairus Stapleton 0 0 0-0 0, Gunner Short 4 2 0-2 14, Chase Fisher 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 37-76 5-15 88. 3-point goals: 9-21. Rebounds: 43 (Staten 6, Van Horn 5, Short 5, Mondlak 5, Lambiotte 5). Assists: 22 (Staten 6, Thomas 5). Steals: 10 (Thomas 3). Blocked shots: 6 (Van Horne 4). Turnovers: 5. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.