Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — The Fairland Lady Dragons aren’t ready to give up their Ohio Valley Conference championship reign just yet.
Co-champs last season with Coal Grove, the Lady Dragons lost to the Lady Hornets on Monday. Fairland bounced back with a 45-42 win over the South Point Lady Pointers on Thursday.
A basket by Kirsten Orsbon with 7:19 to play gave Fairland a 38-31 lead and the Lady Dragons went up 42-33 when Hinkle scored with 6:20 to go.
But South Point kept chipping away and cut the deficit to 44-42 on a basket by Diamond Crawley with 47 seconds left.
Bailey Roland was fouled with 36 seconds left and made the first of two free throws for a 45-42 lead.
But South Point missed four 3-point attempts as Fairland held on for the win.
The Lady Points took a 4-0 lead to start the game before Fairland rallied to lead 8-7 on a 3-pointer by Roland.
Maddy Khoulavong answered for South Point for a 9-8 lead, but Emma Marshall hit a foul shot and Harlie Lyons nailed a 3-pointer for a 12-9 lead.
Sydney Markel’s 3-pointer tied the game and then Fairland went up 16-12 on baskets by Jessica King and Jenna Stone to end the quarter.
Lyons suffered an injury early in the third quarter and left the game.
Scoring slowed in the second quarter as Fairland outscored South Point 10-5 to lead 26-17 at the half.
Fairland took its biggest lead at 30-19 on a basket by Stone with 6:38 on the third quarter clock. Two foul shots by Crawley made it 33-28 but Fairland pulled away to a 36-28 lead at the end of the quarter.
Stone had a big game for the Lady Dragons with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Orsbon had eight rebounds and Marshall seven.
Whitt had a solid all-around game with 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists. Emilee Carey added 10 points and Khounlavong seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
On Saturday, South Point plays at Ashland, Ky., and hosts Gallipolis on Monday. Fairland goes to Portsmouth on Monday.
South Point 12 5 11 14 = 42
Fairland 16 10 10 9 = 45
SOUTH POINT (1-1, 1-1): Emilee Whitt 4-4 2-12 0-1 14, Sarah Roach 3-7 0-1 0-0 6, Maddy Khounlavong 2-2 0-5 1-2 5, Emilee Carey 1-2 2-10 2-2 10, Sydney Markel 0-0 1-2 0-0 3, Diamond Crawley 1-2 0-3 2-2 4. Totals: 16-50 5-7 42. 3-pt goals: 5-33. Rebounds: 8-O, 15-D = 23 (Whitt 7, Khounlavong 7). Assists: 4 (Whitt 2). Steals: 4 (Whitt 3). Blocks: 2 (Khounlavong 2). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.
FAIRLAND (1-2, 1-1): Emma Marshall 1-3 0-3 3-5 5, Harlie Lyons 0-0 1-6 1-2 4, Bailey Roland 0-3 1-2 1-2 4, Jessica King 2-2 0-0 0-0 4, Tomi Hinkle 1-2 1-7 0-2 5, Jenna Stone 6-12 2-3 0-0 18, Libby Judge 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Miaa Howard 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Kirsten Orsbon 2-4 0-0 1-3 5. Totals: 17-47 6-14 45. 3-pt goals: 5-21. Rebounds: 15-O, 23-D = 38 (Stone 10, Orsbon 8, Marshall 7). Assists: 10 (Stone 4). Steals: 5 (Hinkle 3). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 15, Fouled out: None.