Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — When the game was on the line, the Fairland Dragons were hitting at the line.

After watching their lead shrink to 3 points with under two minutes to play, the Dragons hit nine big free throws over the final 1:10 to beat the South Point Pointers 54-45 on Tuesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Ty Staten was 5 of 6 and Luke Thomas was 4 of 4 as the Dragons converted 10 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Thomas finished the game with 18 points with 7 coming in the fourth quarter including a 3-point goal. Kollin Van Horn had 9 points and 11 rebounds and Darius Stapleton added 6 rebounds.

“It seems like every game we have someone different who steps up,” said Dragons’ coach Nathan Speed. “Luke shot the ball well, we played well defensively and we hit some clutch free throws down the stretch.”

South Point (2-6, 1-2) was led by Ryan Gibson with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Brady Rickard had 9 rebounds and Stephen Wagoner added 8 points.

“We played well defensively. We only allowed four field goals in the second half,” said Pointers’ coach Travis Wise. “We’re getting there. We took a step forward tonight.”

Van Horn scored 7 points in the first quarter as Fairland took a 19-11 lead.

The Dragons (7-1, 3-0) extended their lead to 33-20 at the half.

The Pointers held the Dragons to only 6 points in the third quarter as the lead slipped to 39-31.

South Point was down 3 points and attempted a 3-pointer that hit the back of the rim. The Dragons then began to convert free throws to seal the win.

Fairland 19 14 6 15 = 54

South Point 11 9 11 14 = 45

FAIRLAND (7-1, 3-0): Chance Short 2 0 0-2 4, Gunner Short 1 0 0-0 2, Isaiah Howell 3 0 0-0 6, Nathan Campbell 0 0 1-3 1, Ty Staten 0 0 5-6 5, Luke Thomas 1 4 4-4 18, Darius Stapleton 2 0 1-2 5, Hayden James 1 0 0-0 2, Tyler Campbell 1 0 0-3 2, Kollin Van Horn 4 0 1-4 9. Totals: 15 4 12-24 54. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 36 (Van Horn 11, Stapleton 6).

SOUTH POINT (2-6, 1-2): Ryan Gibson 2 3 3-4 16, Brady Rickard 2 0 3-5 7, Alex Whitt 2 0 2-4 6, Stephen Wagoner 4 0 0-2 8, Chris Woodard 0 0 0-2 0, Cody Runyon 2 0 0-0 4, Drew Adams 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 14 3 8-17 45. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Rickard. Rebounds: 28 (Rickard 9, Gibson 7).