Dragons roll past Trojans
Published 12:50 am Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com
PORTSMOUTH — Paul Robeson sang, “Old Man River…he just keeps rolling along” way back in 1936.
Turn the clock ahead 82 years to the Fairland Dragons who just keep rolling through the Ohio Valley Conference including a 66-42 win over Portsmouth Trojans.
The Dragons — who haven’t lost a conference game since the 2014-15 season, improved to 6-0 in the OVC and 9-3 overall.
Four players were in double figures led by Isaiah Howell with 20 points and seven rebounds.
Luke Thomas was 5-of-8 from 3-point range and scored 16 points to go with four assists, Kollin Van Horn had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Keedrick Cunningham added 10 points and three steals and Ty Staten had eight rebounds and four assists.
Portsmouth (8-3, 3-2) was led by Matthew Fraulini with 17 points and A.J. Eley scored 10
Fairland took a 21-9 first quarter lead as Howell hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored nine points. Fraulini hit a 3-pointer and scored five points for the Trojans.
The scoring pace slowed in the second quarter as the Dragons moved in front 30-14 at the half. Van Horn scored seven of Fairland’s nine points in the quarter.
The offenses heated up in the third quarter as Fairland outscored Portsmouth 20-18 to lead 50-32.
Thomas hit four 3-pointers and scored 13 points to key the Fairland surge. Isaac Kelly scored all six on hits points and Eley hit a pair of 3-pointers for the Trojans.
Howell made two more triples, Cunningham and Clayton Thomas both had a 3-pointer and Van Horn added four more points as Fairland continued to pull away.
Fraulini scored eight points including a pair of 3-pointers.
On Friday, Portsmouth visits Rock Hill. Fairland will play in the Beast of the Southeast at Chesapeake on Saturday.
Fairland 21 9 20 16 = 66
Portsmouth 9 5 18 10 = 42
FAIRLAND (9-3, 5-0): Isaiah Howell 3 4 2-4 20, Ty Staten 1 0 0-0 2, Luke Thomas 0 5 1-2 16, Kollin Van Horn 7 0 1-3 15, Keedrick Cunningham 3 1 1-3 10, Chase Fisher 0 0 0-0 0, Joel Lambiotte 0 0 0-2 0, Matt Mondlak 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Gartin 0 0 0-0 0, Ian Chinn 0 0 0-0 0, Clayton Thomas 0 1 0-0 3, Andy Lange 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25-53 5-14 66. 3-pt goals: 11-23. Rebounds: 38 (Van Horn 12, Staten 9, Howell 7). Assists: 12 (L. Thomas 4, Staten 4). Steals: 5 (Cunningham 3). Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.
PORTSMOUTH (8-3, 3-2): A.J. Eley 2 2 0-0 10, Matthew Fraulini 2 4 1-4 17, Daniel Jordan 2 0 0-0 4, Aubrey Holley 0 0 0-0 0, Myquel McKinley 1 0 1-2 3, Isaac Kelly 1 1 1-1 6, Andrew Meadows 0 0 0-0 0, Reese Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Anthony Ferrara 0 0 0-0 0, Gabe Gambill 0 0 0-0 0, Colin Boehm 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-51 3-7 42. 3-pt goals: 7-20. Rebounds: 20 (Kelly 6, Johnson 4). Assists: 4 (Eley 2). Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.