Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — Sometimes, statistics can tell a story.
The shooting statistics in the first half told a big story as the hot-shooting Fairland Lady Dragons built a big halftime lead and went on to beat the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 66-51 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday.
Fairland was 16-of-28 from the field in the first half for 57.1 percent while Coal Grove hit only 5-of-31 shots for a dismal 16.1 percent.
For the game, the Lady Dragons were 27-of-57 for 47.4 percent and Coal Grove was 17-of-65 for 26.2 percent.
Fairland (1-2, 1-1) was led by Allie Marshall with 18 points — nine in each half.
Harley Lyons hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points in the win while Jenna Stone added 10.
Addi Dillow scored 18 points to lead the Lady Hornets (1-2, 1-1). Baylee McKnight added 13 points and Kaleigh Murphy got nine off the bench.
Fairland jumped out to a 14-2 lead before a 3-pointer by Dillow put an end to the run at the 2:43 mark.
But Stone scored and Lyons hit her second 3-pointer of the quarter and it was 19-5 just 37 seconds later.
Dillow made two foul shots by Lyons scored again and it was 21-7 at the end of the quarter.
Kelsie Warnock knocked down a 3-pointer to begin the second quarter and two baskets by Allie Marshall and one by Warnock opened up a 30-10 lead with 5:17 left in the half.
Lyons’ 3-pointer made it 38-15 before Destiny Dolan sank two foul shots for Coal Grove and it was 38-17.
But Lyons made her final 3-pointer of the game with 1:07 left in the half and the Lady Dragons led 41-17 at the half.
Coal Grove wouldn’t quit and two free throws by Abbey Hicks, a basket by Dillow and a 3-pointer by McKnight cut the deficit to 48-28. Dillow made a free throw and it was 48-29 with 3:08 left in the third quarter.
A triple by McKnight and a basket by Dillow closed the gap to 48-36 with 1:50 on the clock.
Stone scored to give Fairland a 52-36 lead at the end of the quarter.
“We were nervous, scared, intimidated, call it what you want, we didn’t think we could win,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Rick Roach.
“At halftime, I told my girls that before the game I was talking to Fairland’s coach and we both were expecting a close game. I believe we had five turnovers to start the third quarter, but then all of a sudden the light clicked on and we started picking up our intensity and shots started falling.”
Coal Grove got within 54-45 on a three-point play by Kaleigh Murphy with 4:50 to play only to have Emma Marshall score and Stone to make a foul shot for a 57-45 lead.
The Lady Hornets got a basket from Hicks to make it 57-47 but could get no closer.
“As much as I hate losing, I was glad to see my girls not give up without a fight. All the girls who played gave me everything they could in the second half,” said Roach.
Coal Grove 7 10 19 15 = 51
Fairland 21 20 11 14 = 66
COAL GROVE (1-2, 1-1): Addi Dillow 5 1 6-6 18, Baylee McKnight 2 2 3-3 13, Kaleigh Murphy 4 0 1-2 9, Abbey Hicks 2 0 2-2 6, Destiny Dolen 1 0 3-4 5, Lauren Crum 0 0 0-0 0, Rylee Harmon 0 0 0-0 0, Jaiden Griffith 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 3 14-18 51. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.
FAIRLAND (1-2, 1-1): Emma Marshall 3 0 1-5 7, Harley Lyons 2 4 0-0 16, Bailey Roland 2 1 0-1 7, Katie Brumfield 0 0 0-0 0, Allie Marshall 8 0 2-3 18, Jessica King 0 0 0-0 0, Kelsie Warnock 1 2 0-0 8, Brittany Thompson 0 0 0-0 0, Libby Judge 0 0 0-0 0, Jenna Stone 4 0 2-4 10, Miaa Howard 0 0 0-0 0, Kirsten Orsbon 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 7 5-13 66. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.