PROCTORVILLE – When the best effort meets the worst effort, something unexpected can happen.

Friday, February 08, 2002

PROCTORVILLE – When the best effort meets the worst effort, something unexpected can happen. And it did.

What was supposed to be a great matchup to help decide the Ohio Valley Conference girls’ basketball championship turned into a stunning rout as the Fairland Lady Dragons spoiled Chesapeake’s title hopes with a 75-37 win Thursday.

The loss left Chesapeake 6-2 in the OVC and gave the title outright to Rock Hill. The Redwomen beat South Point 55-43.

"We played really well. That was our best effort of the year by far," Fairland coach Nathan Speed said.

"It’s a great win. The girls worked so hard and everyone wanted this one tonight. Our bench played well. I’m just so proud of them."

Chesapeake coach Chad Belville was baffled at the game’s lopsided outcome.

"We didn’t show up tonight. The kids didn’t play well and I didn’t coach well. Fairland played a great game. That’s just the way it goes some nights," Belville said.

Jeana Diamond scored 25 points and had 10 rebounds for Fairland, 12-6 and 5-3. Brooke Fisher had 19 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists while Jennifer Jones scored 20 points and had five steals. Brooke Godby had eight rebounds as Fairland collected 44 as a team, 20 on the offensive glass.

‘Before the game we told them we don’t have anything to lose, so take your shots, get on the boards, and get after them," said Speed. "And Jones and Fisher played great defense on Sutphin and Perry. They were all over the floor."

Emily Delimpo led Chesapeake (15-5) with 11 points. Perry had seven points and Sutphin six.

Jones had nine of her points the first quarter and Brooke Fisher seven as Fairland limited Chesapeake to eight points and led 22-8.

Fisher got nine more the second quarter and the lead grew to 41-20 at the half.

The Lady Dragons extended their lead to 53-29 after three quarters and Diamond scored 10 points the fourth as Fairland blitzed the Lady Panthers 22-8 to win going away.

On Monday, Fairland hosts Gallipolis. Chesapeake will play at 1 p.m. Feb. 18 at Rock Hill in the sectional finals against the winner of the South Point-Minford game.

"We just have to regroup and see how well our young kids bounce back and see how well our seniors lead us," said Belville.

Chesapeake 8 12 9 8 – 37

Fairland 22 19 12 22 – 75

CHESAPEAKE (15-5, 6-2): Allyson Baise 0 0 1-2 1, Lisa Perry 0 2 1-3 7, Erin Sutphin 2 0 2-4 6, Megan Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Candace Dickerson 1 1 0-0 5, Sarah Harris 0 0 0-0 0, Joy Mayenchein 1 0 0-0 2, Emily Delimpo 4 0 3-4 11, Katie Ross 0 0 0-0 0, Jennifer Rice 0 1 0-0 3, Noelle Wood 0 0 0-0 0, Brittany Boyle 0 0 0-0 0, Francesca Karle 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 9 4 7-12 37. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Delimpo.

FAIRLAND (12-6, 5-3): Brooke Godby 1 0 0-0 2, Megan Fisher 1 0 1-2 3, Allison McConnell 0 0 0-0 0, Kristen Berry 1 0 0-0 2, Kara Riley 1 0 0-0 2, Courtney Walburn 0 0 0-0 0, Jennifer Jones 7 1 3-4 20, Kristen Brumfield 1 0 0-0 2, Brooke Fisher 6 0 7-9 19, Jeana Diamond 11 0 3-6 25. Totals: 29 1 14-22 75. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 20-24=44 (Diamond 10, B. Fisher 10, Godby 8). Assists: 19 (B. Fisher 8, M. Fisher 5). Steals: 13 (Jones 5, Diamond 3). Blocked shots: 3 (Diamond 1, B. Godby 2). Turnovers: 14. Charges taken: 2 (B. Fisher, Jones).