Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — The Fairland Lady Dragons wanted to run. The Portsmouth Lady Trojans pulled back the reins.
Seems like the Lady Dragons can play that half-court game, too.
The Lady Dragons adjusted to the slow-pace of the game as they beat the Lady Trojans 45-26 on Monday to remain tied for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Fairland led 8-3 after a 3-pointer by Brittany Thompson. Portsmouth’s Jasmine Eley and Fairland’s Harley Lyons then exchange 3-pointers and it was 11-5.
Emma Marshall converted a three-point play and it was 14-5 at the end of the quarter.
The lead went to 19-5 before Hannah Hughes scored at the 5:52 mark for Portsmouth. Jenna Stone came back with a triple for Fairland and a 22-7 lead.
Nia Trinidad’s trifecta got Portsmouth within 22-10. Lyons and Hughes traded baskets to make it 24-12 but Allie Marshall scored and Jenna Stone added a foul shot with 16 seconds left in the half and it was 27-14.
Hughes scored to start the second half and the two teams went back-and-forth. Allie Marshall’s two foul shots had the lead at 39-25 before Eley’s free throw with five seconds on the clock made it 39-26.
Fairland’s offense struggled in the fourth quarter with only six points but the Lady Trojans failed to score. In fact, there was no scoring after Emma Marshall made two foul shots with 5:07to play.
Allie Marshall had 16 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and two steals to lead Fairland (14-3, 9-2). Lyons added 11 points, five rebounds and four steals.
Hughes had eight points and seven rebounds while Eley got 11 points and Jaiden Rickett eight rebounds for Portsmouth (6-11, 3-9).
On Thursday, Fairland hosts Gallipolis and Portsmouth goes to Rock Hill.
Fairland 14 13 12 6 = 45
Portsmouth 5 9 12 0 = 26
FAIRLAND (14-3, 9-2): Emma Marshall 1-3 0-0 3-3 5, Harley Lyons 2-4 2-7 1-1 11, Bailey Roland 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Allie Marshall 5-13 0-0 6-7 16, Jessica King 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Kelsie Warnock 0-1 0-1 0-0 0, Brittany Thompson 0-0 3-9 0-0 9, Jenna Stone 0-1 1-31-2 4, Mia Howard 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-43 11-13 45. 3-pt goals: 6-20. Rebounds: 11-O, 10-D = 21 (A. Marshall 10, Lyons 5). Assists: 9 (Stone 4, Warnock 2). Steals: 8 (Lyons 4, A. Marshall 2). Blocks: 6 (A. Marshall 4). Turnovers: 5. Fouls: 6. Fouled out: None.
PORTSMOUTH (6-11, 3-9): Jasmine Eley 2-3 2-5 1-2 11, Nia Trinidad 0-2 2-2 0-0 6, Hannah Hughes 4-10 0-2 0-0 8, Ashanti Richardson 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Jaiden Rickett 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Layla Kegg 0-0 0-0 1-2 1. 3-pt goals: 4-9. Rebounds: 3-O, 12-D = 15 (Rickett 8, Hughes 7). Assists: 2 (Eley 2). Blocks: 1 (Kegg). Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.