Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

GALLIPOLIS — Go figure.
In the first meeting of the season, it was supposed to be a great game but ended up a 97-50 rout.
In the rematch on Tuesday, it was supposed to be a rout but ended up a great game.
Either way, the Fairland Dragons came away with a win each time including a thrilling 60-57 victory over the Gallipolis Blue Devils in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
Luke Thomas hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 57-57 with 33 seconds to play.
Justin McClelland then made two foul shots with 26 seconds left and Gallipolis had a 59-57 lead.
But Thomas came out of a timeout and hit his clutch 3-pointer with 14 seconds to give the Dragons the lead.
The Blue Devils had a 3-pointer attempt that missed with 2.7 seconds left and Fairland grabbed the rebound.
Fairland is now 17-3 overall and 12-0 in the OVC. Gallipolis slips to 14-3 and 8-3 in the league.
Isaiah Howell had 18 points while Thomas hit four 3-pointers and scored 13 points to lead the Dragons. Thomas also had six rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Kollin Van Horn added 12 points and Keedrick Cunningham scored 10 points in the win.
Gallipolis was led by Evan Wiseman with 18 points and seven rebounds. Zach Loveday had 11 points and nine rebounds.
Kaden Thomas also had 11 points and McClelland 10 in the loss.
Fairland led 14-4 after the first quarter as Thomas and Van Horn each hit 3-pointers and it seemed like another blowout.
The Dragons extended the lead to 36-21 at the half as Howell scored 13 points including three 3-pointers while Thomas and Cunningham also had 3-pointers.
Gallipolis cut the deficit to 46-37 after three quarters as Wiseman hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored eight points and Loveday added five points.
Van Horn hit s 3-pointer and had five points with Cunningham adding a 3-pointer.
That set the stage for the fourth quarter and the thrilling finish.
On Friday, Fairland goes to Chesapeake and Gallipolis visits Portsmouth.
Fairland    14    22    10    14    =    60
Gallipolis    4    17    16    22    =    59
FAIRLAND (17-3, 12-0): Isaiah Howell 4 3 1-4 18, Ty Staten 0 1 2-4 5, Luke Thomas 0 4 1-2 13, Chase Fisher 0 0 0-0 0, Joel Lambiotte 0 0 0-0 0, Kollin Van Horn 2 2 2-4 12, Keedrick Cunningham 2 2 0-0 10, Ty Wilcoxon 0 0 2-4 2, Clayton Thomas 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-51 8-18 60. 3-pt goals: 12-26. Rebounds: 11-O, 16-D = 27 (Wilcoxon 7, Thomas 6). Assists: 16 (Staten 5, L. Thomas 3). Steals: 13 (Staten 4, L. Thomas 4). Turnovers: 10. Blocks: Van Horn 2. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.
GALLIPOLIS (14-3, 8-3): Caleb Henry 0 0 0-0 0, Evan Wiseman 2 3 5-5 18, Justin McClelland 2 1 3-4 10, Kaden Thomas 0 3 2-2 11, Logan Blour 1 0 1-2 3, Cory Call 3 0 0-1 6, Zach Loveday 4 0 3-4 11, Gage Harrison 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-39 14-18 59. 3-pt goals: 7-13. Rebounds: 6-O, 24-D = 30 (Loveday 9, Wiseman 7). Assists: 15 (Call 4, Thomas 4). Steals: 4 (Call 2). Blocks: Loveday 2, Wiseman 2. Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.