Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — The ball just didn’t bounce the right way for the Fairland Dragons.
Jaquarious Houston had a tip-in at the buzzer to lift the Lanett (Alabama) Panthers over the Dragons 72-70 on Wednesday afternoon in the Beach Ball Classic at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
“We did a better job at moving the ball today and not turning it over,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed.
Fairland’s Clayton Thomas nailed a pair of 3-pointers including one with 26 seconds left to tie the game at 70.
Anquanious Pollard missed a fall away jumper with two seconds on the clock but Houston got the tip-in basket from the backside to give Lanett the win.
Luke Thomas had 21 points and Keedrick Cunningham scored 17 to lead the Dragons (6-2).
Clemson football signee Kristian Story had 21 points to lead four players for Lanett (5-2) in double figures. Anquanious Pollard had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Terrion Truitt scored 11 and Houston added 10.
The lead changes hands four times and the score was tied twice in the first half.
The Dragons’ biggest lead was five points in the first half and their last lead was 17-14 with 8:07 on the clock.
Pollard’s 3-pointer tied the game and a triple by Story gave the Panthers a 20-17 lead with 6:09 to go in the half.
Story’s 3-pointer with one second left gave Lanett its biggest lead of 33-24.
The Panthers opened up their largest lead of the game when Story made a layup at the 12:12 mark of the second half and it was 46-30.
The Dragons began to chip away with about five minutes to play.
A layup by Ty Staten and a pair of 3-pointers by Luke Thomas got the Dragons within 63-54. Thomas added a layup and a steal by Staten led to another 3-pointer by Thomas and it was 64-59 with 2:58 left.
Pollard’s layup and a foul shot by Truitt put the lead at 69-62 with 1:33 to go. Staten had a layup and Story a free throw to make it 70-64 with 47 seconds left.
Clayton Thomas then hit his trifectas before the Panthers last-second shot.
“We did a good job at battling back to tie it up.,” said Speed
Fairland will play Myrtle Beach in a 10:15 a.m. game on Friday.
Fairland    24    46    =    70
Lanett        33    39    =    72
FAIRLAND (6-2): Isaiah Howell 4-10 0-0 8, Ty Staten 6-10 0-0 12, Luke Thomas 8-15 0-0 21, Kollin Van Horn 2-7 0-0 4, Keedrick Cunningham 7-15 3-4 17, Joel Lambiotte 1-2 0-0 2, Matt Mondlak 0-1 0-0 0, Clayton Thomas 2-2 0-0 6. Totals: 30-62 3-4 70. 3-pt goals: 7-23 (Howell 0-4, Staten 0-2, L. Thomas 5-10, Cunningham 0-4, Mondlak 0-1, C. Thomas 2-2). Rebounds: 8-O, 20-D = 28 (Howell 7, Staten 7, Van Horn 5, Cunningham 5). Assists: 16 (Staten 7, Van Horn 4, Howell 3). Steals: 11 (Howell 4, Staten 4, L. Thomas 3). Blocks: 2. Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Cunningham.
LANETT (5-2): Jaquarious Houston 3-6 2-2 10, Anquavious Pollard 8-17 1-2 19, Kristian Story 6-12 5-10 21, Terrion Truitt 4-9 2-4 11, Emanuel Littles 4-8 0-0 8, Tifton Dobbs 1-2 1-2 3, Braylon Harrington 0-0 0-0 0, Zameron Boozer 0-0 0-2 0. Totals: 26-54 11-22 72. 3-pt goals: 9-16 (Houston 2-4, Pollard 2-4, Story 4-4, Truitt 1-3, Littles 0-1). Rebounds: 14-O, 25-D = 39 (Littles 11, Pollard 10, Dobbs 6). Assists: 19 (Truitt 11, Story 5). Steals: 8 (Story 3, Pollard 2). Blocks: 1. Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 6. Fouled out: None.