Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

JACKSON — If this was a shooting contest, it turned out to be Annie Oakley vs. Deputy Barney Fife.

The Fairland Dragons shot 58 percent from the field and held the Oak Hill Oaks to 25.5 percent as they picked up a 57-40 win over the top-seeded Oaks Friday and captured the Division III sectional title.

Fairland’s defense applied pressure to the Oak Hill shooters while driving inside for layups and short-range jumpers en route to the win.

“The last few games we’ve played team defense, not just individual,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed.

“Tyler (Campbell) cut them (off) when they did curl or cut and jammed the middle. And Luke (Phillips) is the energizer bunny. He doesn’t stop. And Maddox did a good job.”

The Dragons (12-11) had four players in double figures as Evan Maddox finished with 14 points, Luke Phillips 13, Tyler Campbell 12 and Chance Short 10. Nathan Campbell had nine rebounds.

“We’ve started moving the ball more. We’re sharing the ball better. We’re taking better shots and not forcing things and we’re getting better looks,” said Speed.

Oak Hill (14-8) was led by Jordan Fisher with 14 points and Colton Salyers with nine.

“We know they like to get the ball out in transition, but we can push the ball, too,” said Speed. “We had some good opportunities in transition to finish and we did a good job with that.”

Fairland was 21-of-36 from the field and had 12 layups among their total field goals.

The Oaks were just 13-of-51 from the field and leading scorer Garrin Stiltner had just five points.

“We have to shoot the ball well and we didn’t do that tonight. We couldn’t get anyone going. But give them credit. They did a good job pressuring our shots,” said Oak Hill coach Norm Persin.

Fairland took an 11-5 first quarter lead and it was 19-11 at the half.

The Oaks got within 30-25 with 1:44 to go in the quarter after back-to-back layups by Fisher.

But Maddox hit a 17-footer and Nathan Campbell had a layup and the lead was 34-25 heading into the fourth quarter.

A layup by Harrison cut the deficit to 34-27 to start the fourth quarter, but the Oaks would get no closer.

Short hit a 10-footer and Phillips made a layup and it was 38-27. A 3-pointer play by Tyler Campbell had the lead at 44-30 an two free throws by Maddox with 4:14 left extended the cushion to 47-30.

Fairland will play Southeastern at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2, at Ohio University in the district semifinals.

Fairland 11 8 15 23 = 57

Oak Hill 5 6 14 15 = 40

FAIRLAND (12-11): Luke Phillips 5 0 3-5 13, Chance Short 3 0 4-6 10, Nathan Campbell 3 0 0-0 6, Evan Maddox 4 1 5-6 14, Tyler Campbell 5 0 2-3 12, Thayer Flynn 0 0 0-0 0, Shane Stevens 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Warner 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-36 14-20 57. 3-point goals: 1-9. Rebounds: 4-O, 26-D = 30 (N. Campbell 9, T. Campbell 5, Short 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Assists: 6 (Maddox 3, Phillips 2). Steals: 6 (Phillips 2, Short 2). Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

OAK HILL (14-8): Jonathan Harrison 1 0 0-1 2, Garrin Stiltner 1 0 3-3 5, Carlin Haggerty 0 0 0-0 0, Kyle Cox 2 2 0-0 10, Jordan Fisher 4 0 4-5 12, Dennis Fleming 0 0 0-0 0, Colton Salyers 1 1 4-5 9. Totals: 13-51 11-13 40. 3-point goals: 3-22. Rebounds: 15-O, 15-D = 30 (Harrison 9, Stiltner 7). Team/deadball rebounds: 2. Assists: 5 (Harrison 3). Steals: 7 (Harrison 3, Stiltner 2). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Harrison (4th 1:47).