Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COLUMBUS — They were free, so Bishop Ready took them.
The Blue Knights were deadly at the foul line as they made 14-of-17 attempts and edged the Fairland Dragons 51-47 on Saturday.
The loss was the first of the season for the Dragons (6-1) who played without 6-3 starter Jacob Polcyn due to an injury.
Fairland started well as they took a 17-13 first quarter lead with Aiden Porter scoring 6 points, Zander Schmidt 4 and Clayton Thomas hitting a 3-pointer.
But the Dragons offense was stymied the next two quarters as they managed just 8 points in each quarter.
Ready (3-2) got 3-pointers from Garrison Budd and Troy Hanson as they cut the deficit to 25-22 at the half.
Ready rallied to take a 38-33 lead in the third quarter as Darius Parham and Budd scored 6 points each.
Porter had 5 points including 3-of-3 at the line. The Dragons were 9-of-11 at the line for the game.
Fairland mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter as Jordan Williams scored 6 points and Thomas drained two more 3-pointers.
But the Blue Knights converted 11-of-13 free throws attempts including two one-and-one situations.
Porter led the Dragons with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
Thomas scored 12 points to go with five assists while Williams added 13 points and 5 rebounds.
Fairland plays in the Russ Gregg Classic Friday.
Fairland 17 8 8 14 = 47
Col. Ready 13 9 16 13 = 51
FAIRLAND (6-1): Aiden Porter 5-8 0-4 5-5 15, Gavin Hunt 0-0 0-1 0-0 0, Clayton Thomas 0-1 4-11 0-0 12, Jordan Williams 5-8 0-0 3-4 13, Zander Schmidt 2-4 0-1 0-0 4, Tevin Taylor 1-1 0-1 1-2 3, Nate Thacker 0-0 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 17-41 9-11 47. 3-pt goals: 4-19. Rebounds: 22 (Porter 6, Hunt 5, Williams 5). Assists: 11 (Thomas 5, Porter 4). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
BISHOP READY (3-2): P.J. Daniels 4-5 0-2 4-6 12, Brock Baker 1-4 0-1 3-3 5, Azzan Daniels 1-1 0-4 0-0 2, Darius Parham 4-6 0-3 4-4 12, Kyle Gramlich 0-0 1-1 0-0 3, Garrison Budd 3-4 1-3 1-2 10, Troy Hanson 0-1 1-1 0-0 3, Kaleb Schaffer 1-3 0-0 202 4. Totals: 17-39 14-17 51. 3-pt goals: 3-15. Rebounds: 13 (Daniels 3, Parham 3). Assists: 3 (Daniels 2). Turnovers: 5. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.