Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — Well, the Fairland Lady Dragons know how to play defense, too.
The Lady Dragons showed there was more to their game than just offense as out-defended the Alexander Lady Spartans 42-29 on Saturday in the Tri-State Hoops Classic.
Fairland (14-2) held Alexander’s leading scorer Rachel Richardson to just two free throws and the Lady Spartans were just 10-of-42 from the field for 24 percent.
Alexander’s defense was solid as well as Fairland went 15-of-50 from the floor for 20 percent and 4-of-17 from the 3-point line for 24 percent.
Emily Chapman — who averages about 21 points a game — led Fairland with 14 points. She also had four assists and three steals.
Alesha Simpson had eight points and eight rebounds and Allie Marshall got eight points and six steals.
McKena Rice scored 14 points and Kristen Taylor eight for Alexander (10-4). Richardson did have nine rebounds and four assists.
Fairland went on an 8-0 run to begin the game and led 9-2 at the end of the first quarter.
Chapman hit a 3-pointer at the 5:16 mark of the second quarter and Fairland led 14-4. Marshall’s basket with 1:36 on the clock extended the lead to 21-8 before Rice hit a 3-pointer and Makaela Trout scored with two seconds left to get the Lady Spartans with 21-13 at the half.
Mace hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 23-19 with 5:05 on the third quarter clock and a foul Kristen Taylor made one of two foul shots to tie the game at 26 with 1:36 left in the quarter.
But Simpson made a free throw as Fairland went up 27-26 to end the quarter.
Brittany Thompson and Marshall both hit 3-pointers as Fairland went up 33-26 less than a minute into the fourth quarter.
Taylar Wilson’s basket with 4:16 to play opened up a 37-27 lead and Chapman scored for a 12-point lead with 2:12 to go.
Taylor scored at the 1:37 mark to make it 39-29 but the Lady Spartans did not score the rest of the quarter against the Fairland defense.
Fairland hosts Coal Grove on Monday.
Alexander    2    11    13    3    =    29
Fairland    9    12    6    15    =    42
ALEXANDER (10-4): Jadyn Mace 0 1 0-0 3, McKena Rice 2 3 1-3 14, Sydnie Bolin 0 0 0-0 0, Makaela Trout 1 0 0-0 2, Rachel Richardson 0 0 2-2 2, Mallory Rankin 0 0 0-0 0, Kristen Taylor 3 0 2-4 8. Totals: 10-42 5-9 29. 3-pt goals: 4-20. Rebounds: 8-O, 20-D = 28 (Richardson 9, Taylor 9, Rankin 5). Assists: 6 (Richardson 4). Steals: 4 (Mace 2). Blocks: 0. Turnovers: 20. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.
FAIRLAND (14-2): Harley Lyons 0 1 0-0 3, Taylar Wilson 2 0 0-0 4, Emily Chapman 4 1 3-4 14, Allie Marshall 2 1 1-2 8, Kelsie Warnock 0 0 2-2 2, Brittany Thompson 0 1 0-0 3, Katie Brumfield 0 0 0-0 0, Alesha Simpson 3 0 2-3 8, Kirsten Orsbon 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-50 8-11 42. 3-pt goals: 4-17. Rebounds: 5-O, 19-D = 24 (Simpson 8, Wilson 7). Assists: 7 (Chapman 4, Warnock 3). Steals: 13 (Marshall 6, Chapman 3, Warnock 3). Blocks: 2. Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.