By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

PROCTORVILLE — Matt Campbell provided the spark and the Fairland Dragons kept it burning.

Campbell lit a fire in his teammates and the Dragons beat the River Valley Raiders 62-46 Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“Matt Campbell gave us a big lift and got us going. He really got us going in practice this week and it carried over to the game,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed.

“We came out strong. We started fast. We haven’t done that all year. Campbell and (Jon) Baise played outstanding. They played big.”

Baise scored 12 points to go with four assists and four steals. Evan Salyer led the Dragons (4-4, 2-1) with 17 points and six rebounds. Campbell and Jonathan Holbrook had six rebounds each and Blaine Fuller five.

Dominique Peck scored 12 points while Kyle Bryant and Cody Smith had 10 each for the Raiders.

Fairland jumped out to a 24-10 first quarter lead as Salyer scored eight points and Holbrook hit a pair of 3-pointers.

The Dragons managed the lead the rest of the game as they led 36-24 at the half and 46-38 after three quarters before outscoring River Valley 16-8 in the fourth quarter.

Fairland hosts Chesapeake Tuesday. The Dragons need a win to move into a first place tie with the Panthers.

River Valley 10 14 14 8 = 46

Fairland 24 12 10 16 = 62

RIVER VALLEY (NA): Trey Noble 0 0 0-0 0, Aaron Harrison 1 0 0-2 2, Kyle Bryant 2 1 3-4 10, Austin Lewis 3 0 0-2 6, Dominique Peck 4 0 4-6 12, Derek Flint 2 0 2-2 6, Cody Smith 2 2 0-3 10. Totals: 17-53 9-19 46. Fouls: 22. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 3-10. Rebounds: 24 (Peck 8). Assists: 5 (Noble 2). Steals: 3. Turnovers: 12.

FAIRLAND (4-4, 2-1): Jon Baise 3 0 6-6 12 Chad Fisher 2 1 2-3 9, Alec Warner 1 0 0-0 2, Thayer Flynn 0 0 0-1 0, Eric Riley 2 0 0-2 4, Blaine Fuller 2 0 4-6 8, Jonathan Holbrook 0 2 2-2 8, Matt Campbell 1 0 0-0 2, Evan Salyer 6 0 5-6 17. Totals: 20-45 19-26 62. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Holbrook. 3-point goals: 3-9. Rebounds: 34 (Campbell 7, Salyer 6, Holbrook 6, Fuller 5). Assists: 13 (Baise 4). Steals: 8 (Baise 4). Turnovers: 15.