Plenty riding on first-ever meeting between Fairland, Berlin Hiland
Published 1:41 am Friday, March 17, 2017
![](https://www.irontontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/03/Thomas-on-web.jpg)
Fairland Dragons’ Luke Thomas breaks down to protect the ball from Sugarcreek Garaway’s Trevor Donaldson during Wednesday’s Division III regional semifinals. Fairland plays Berlin Hiland at 7 p.m. on Saturday in the regional finals. (Kent Sanborn of Southern Ohio Sports Photos)
Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com
ATHENS — It’s time to see which team can make the better first impression.
The Fairland Dragons and Berlin Hiland Hawks are meeting for the first time and it will be in the Division III regional championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Ohio University Convocation Center.
The team making the best first impression and getting the win earns a trip to the state tournament next week at the Ohio State Schottenstein Center. The Athens winner plays at 10:45 a.m. on Friday against the Canton winner.
The two teams have played a similar opponent in Sugarcreek Garaway and each have played Garaway twice.
Hiland lost both meetings, 50-45 and 48-47 just four weeks ago. Fairland won 80-52 on Dec. 31 and 57-52 in the regional semifinal on Wednesday.
The Hawks (22-4) are led by 6-foot-3 senior guard Turner Horn who averages 14.8 points a game. He was a first team All-East District selection.
The only other Hiland player honored was 5-9 junior guard Scott Troyer who was honorable mention.
Besides Horn and Troyer, the Hawks are expected to start 5-8 sophomore Andrew Miller, 6-foot junior Kobe Troyer and 6-4 senior Noah Sommers.
Hiland ended Chillicothe Southeastern’s Cinderella run with a 60-34 win on Wednesday as 5-10 senior Christopher Kline scored 19 points and Horn had 18.
Both Sommers and Scott Troyer had eight points each, Kendall Hochstetler and Andrew Miller three points apiece, 6-2 junior Damien Kandel four points and Kobe Troyer two.
Hiland was 10-of-14 from the line and made just two 3-point goals.
The Dragons (24-1) are a well-balanced team that makes it hard for defenses to defend.
Co-District Player of the Year Isaiah Howell averages 15.2 points, Luke Thomas 15.5, Gunner Short 15.8 and 6-7 Kollin Vann Horn 11.8 points and 2.5 blocks despite missing a month due to a facial injury that required surgery.
Two other players who should not be overlooked at 6-foot junior point guard Ty Staten who is a very unselfish player, and 6-0 junior Keedrick Cunningham who brings athleticism off the bench and prevents any drop off in talent.
Berlin Hiland Hawks
Hiland 53 River 37
Hiland 61 East Canton 41
Hiland 52 Sandy Valley 45
Hiland 64 Northwestern 52
Hiland 60 Ridgewood 57
Hiland 53 Malvern 43
Hiland 54 Strasburg 36
Hiland 61 Whitehall 53
Hiland 63 Day. Dunbar 80
Hiland 65 Tuscy Catholic 42
Hiland 45 Garaway 50
Hiland 64 West Holmes 44
Hiland 53 East Canton 30
Hiland 68 Newcomerstown 54
Hiland 78 Wooster Triway 44
Hiland 71 Ridgewood 47
Hiland 54 Sandy Valley 42
Hiland 63 Malvern 47
Hiland 45 Strasburg 47
Hiland 54 Tuscy Catholic 42
Hiland 47 Garaway 48
Hiland 76 Newcomrstwn 39
Tournament
Hiland 78 Barnesville 15
Hiland 71 W. Muskingum 34
Hiland 60 Tuscar. Valley 45
Hiland 60 Southeastern 34
Record: 22-4
Fairland Dragons
Fairland 85 McNicholas Co 60
Fairland 71 Huntington, WVa 65
Fairland 59 Rock Hill 26
Fairland 81 Ironton 40
Fairland 89 Hunt. Prep B 75
Fairland 65 Dayton C-J 58
Fairland 80 Garaway 52
Fairland 78 Coal Grove 43
Fairland 42 Hilliard Bradley 64
Fairland 67 Portsmouth 48
Fairland 75 Gallipolis 48
Fairland 81 Athens (OT) 77
Fairland 79 South Point 48
Fairland 89 Chesapeake 23
Fairland 79 Rock Hill 42
Fairland 56 Ironton 53
Fairland 61 Coal Grove 43
Fairland 89 South Point 65
Fairland 65 Portsmouth 55
Fairland 88 Gallipolis 53
Fairland 64 Chesapeake 26
Tournament
Fairland 66 Coal Grove 33
Fairland 74 Piketon 42
Fairland 69 South Point 48
Fairland 57 Garaway 52
Record: 24-1