Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — The Eastern Eagles spoiled a perfectly good comeback.
The Fairland Dragons rallied from a five-point deficit to start the fourth quarter to tie the game at 47 only to have the Eagles hold on for a thrilling 54-52 overtime win on Wednesday in the Buckeye Elite Showcase at Portsmouth High School.
Fairland (1-1) was led by Matt Mondlak with 18 points and Clayton Thomas with 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Evan Leist scored 19 and Michael Miller added 17 points and five rebounds for Eastern (1-1).
Mondlak scored all five of Fairland’s points in overtime with a 3-pointer and a basket. But Leist hit a 3-pointer and was 2-for-3 at the line while Miller went 2-for-2 at the foul stripe for Eastern’s points.
The Dragons were 21-of-48 from the field including 10-of-29 from the 3-point line for 34.5 percent. They were only 2-of-3 at the foul line.
Eastern hit 20-of-39 field goal attempts for 51.3 percent.
Cody Weaver scored six of his nine points in the first quarter as the Eagles took a 12-9 lead. Chinn had four points and Thomas drained a 3-pointer for the Dragons.
The Eagles went up 23-16 at the half as Millers had five points to counter Thomas who also had five points including a 3-pointer.
Fairland cut the deficit to 37-32 at the end of the third quarter as Garten and Aiden Porter each knocked down a pair of 3-pointers.
Leist scored eight points and Hunter Cochenour added a triple as Eastern held to lead.
Mondlak started heating up as he hit three trifextas and scored13 points as Fairland rallied to tie the game and force the overtime.
Fairland hosts Regional Prep at 8 p.m. Saturday as the nightcap to the all-day Big E Classic.
Fairland 9 7 16 15 5 = 52
Eastern 12 11 14 10 7 = 54
FAIRLAND (1-1): Jacob Polcyn 1-3 0-0 0-0 2, Aiden Porter 1-4 2-6 0-0 8, Gavin Hunt 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Matt Mondlak 3-4 4-9 0-0 18, Austin Gartin 0-0 2-7 0-0 6, Ian Chinn 2-5 0-0 2-3 6, Andy Lange 1-1 0-0 0-0 2, Clayton Thomas 2-3 2-7 0-0 10. Totals: 21-48 2-3 52. 3-pt goals: 10-29. Rebounds: 20 (Chinn 5, Thomas 5). Assists: 12 (Thomas 4, Porter 2, Gartin 2). Steals: 1 (Porter). Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.
BEAVER EASTERN (1-1): Evan Leist 4-7 2-2 5-7 19, Dillon Mattox 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Drake Myers 2-2 0-0 0-0 4, Hunter Cochenour 1-2 1-6 0-0 5, Parker Clemmons 0-0 0-0 0, Cody Weaver 4-10 0-0 1-2 9, Michael Miller 6-9 0-1 5-7 17. Totals: 20-39 11-16 54. 3-pt goals: 3-9. Rebounds: 17 (Miller 5, Weaver 5). Assists: 2 (Weaver, Leist). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.