Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

DAYTON — The Fairland Dragons took care of the pressure, but they couldn’t quite take care of their opponent.
The Dragons had an early lead but couldn’t hold on as they lost a tough 81-79 decision to the Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s Fighting Irish on Sunday at the Flying To The Hoop Classic.
The loss wasted a 33-point performance by Dragons’ 6-foot-8 senior center Kollin Van Horn. Luke Thomas hit five 3-pointers and scored 15 points.
Keedrick Cunningham had 11 points, six rebounds and eight assists while Isaiah Howell added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Fairland (9-3) shot 51 percent from the field and had just seven turnovers.
“We did a great job of handling their run and jump pressure. We moved the ball well offensively. Defensively, we seemed a step slow, especially on close-outs.,” said Dragons’ coach Nathan Speed.
“Kollin had a great game. He was finishing well through contact and played solid defense.”
Scott Walter had 22 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals for the Irish. Seth Wilson scored 18 points, Lunden McDay had 13 points and Darius Cone got 10 points and six rebounds.
SVSM shot 42 percent from the field and had only two turnovers. The Irish were 18-of-27 from the foul line while the Dragons were 10-of-15.
The game was tied twice and featured eight lead changes.
The game was tied 14-14 when the Dragons went on a 16-0 run to lead 22-14 at the end of the first quarter and built the biggest lead of the game at 30-18.
But the Irish rallied to get within 40-38 at the half.
SVSM outscored the Dragons 22-14 in the third quarter to take a 60-54 lead. The Fighting Irish then held on in the fourth quarter for the win.
The Dragon hosts Chesapeake on Tuesday.
Fairland    22    18    14    25    =    79
St.V-St.M    14    24    22    21    =    81
FAIRLAND (9-3): Isaiah Howell 1-3 2-5 2-2 10, Ty Staten 1-7 2-2 0-0 8, Luke Thomas 0-0 5-8 0-0 15, Chase Fisher 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Joel Lambiotte 1-1 0-0 0-0 2, Kollin Van Horn 11-17 2-3 5-8 33, Matt Mondlak 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Keedrick Cunningham 4-10 0-1 3-5 11, Clayton Thomas 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-38 11-19 10-15 79. Total Shooting: 29-57. Rebounds: 10-O, 18-D = 28 (Van Horn 8, Howell 7, Cunningham 6). Assists: 17 (Cunningham 8, L. Thomas 3). Steals: 2. Blocks: 1 (L. Thomas). Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.
ST. VINCENT-ST. MARY’S: Scott Walter 3-3 3-4 5-8 22, Chris Painter 0-1 2-3 2-2 8, Seth Wilson 2-7 4-9 2-2 18, Vann Thomas 0-0 2-2 0-0 6, Lunden McDay 3-8 1-2 4-6 13, Darius Cone 2-6 1-1 3-5 10, Jordan Addison 1-4 0-0 0-0 2, Keyshawn Jones 0-3 0-0 0-2 0, Jalen Ross 0-2 0-0 2-2 2, Marcus Johnson 0-2 0-0 0-0 0, Malaki Branham 0-0 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 12-37 13-22 18-27 81. Total shooting: 25-59. Rebounds: 20-O, 21-D = 41 (Addison 8, Walter 8, Cone 6). Assists: 8 (Walter 5, Wilson 3). Steals: 3 (Walter 2). Blocks: 2. Turnovers: 6. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.