Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

JACKSON — It was Journey who sang, “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
The Fairland Lady Dragons trailed by as many as 14 points and were behind after three quarters before rallying to beat the Portsmouth West Lady Senators 53-48 on Wednesday in the Division 3 sectional tournament.
Fairland (13-10) outscored West 22-10 in the fourth quarter as they converted 9-of-17 free throws to full the late comeback.
For the game, the teams were called for a combined 46 fouls and shot a total of 56 free throws. West connected on 17-of-32 free throw attempts and Fairland was 15-of-24.
Jenna Stone and Harlie Lyons each hit four 3-point goals and scored 17 points to help the Lady Dragons (13-10) advance to the sectional finals.
Charli Jo Howard scored 17 points and Abbi Packer 13 to lead West (10-13).
Morgan Rigsby had 4 points, Howard and Pack both made 3-pointers and Howard got 5 points as West went up 14-12 in the first quarter.
West led by as much as 26-12 in the second quarter and it was 27-18 at the half as Howard and Eden Cline combined for 9 points.
Emma Marshall and Stone hit 3-pointers for Fairland in the quarter.
The Lady Dragons chipped away at the lead as Stone knocked down two more 3-pointers and Lyons made another to get Fairland within 38-31. Howard and Pack combined for 9 points as they made 5-of-5 from the foul line.
Pack had a 3-pointer and scored 5 points in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Dragons held West to just 10 points while Stone hit a 3-pointer and scored 8 points and Lyons drained a pair of triples and scored 8 points as well.
NEXT UP: Fairland plays in the sectional finals against Southeastern at 2:45 p.m. Saturday.
Ports. West 14 13 11 10 = 48
Fairland 12 6 13 22 = 53
PORTSMOUTH WEST (10-13): Maelynn Howell 0 0 0-0 0, Abby Adkins 2-3 0-0 4-4 8, Eden Cline 1-2 0-2 2-3 4, Haley Coleman 0-0 0-0 1-2 1, Abbi Pack 2-5 2-3 3-7 13, Emily Sissel 0-0 0-1 0-2 0, Charlie Jo Howard 4-5 1-1 6-6 17, Morgan Rigsby 1-10 1-2 1-8 5, Kelma Bennett 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-33 17-32 48. 3-pt goals: 3-8. Rebounds: 27 (Rigsby 10, Pack 5). Assists: 1. Steals: 5 (Rigsby 2). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Cline, Rigsby.
FAIRLAND (13-10): Emma Marshall 0-1 1-3 1-2 4, Harlie Lyons 0-2 4-12 5-8 17, Bailey Roland 2-3 0-1 1-3 5, Jessica King 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Tomi Hinkle 1-4 1-7 4-4 9, Jenna Stone 1-1 4-11 3-4 17, Miaa Howard 0-2 0-0 1-3 1, Kirsten Orsbon 0-2 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-38 15-24 53. 3-pt goals: 10-27. Rebounds: 29 (Howard 7, Marshall 6). Assists: 10 Marshall 2, Lyons 2, Stone 2). Steals: 6 (Hinkle 2). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 27. Fouled out: Roland, Hinkle.