By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

PROCTORVILLE — The Fairland Dragons decided to half everything.

Turning up their half-court defense the Dragons did a better job in the second half en route to a 74-55 rout of the Alexander Spartans Saturday.

Fairland (12-5) led by 10 at the half but turned up its defensive pressure in the second half to coast past the Spartans.

“Our press worked well, but we felt we gave up too many points the first half in our half-court defense,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed. “We made a point in the second half to do a better job and we did.”

Fairland’s defense forced Alexander into 28 turnovers including 10 steals.

“We turned them over and got our break going,” said Speed.

Seniors Chad Fisher, Jonathan Holbrook and Jon Baise did the bulk of the damage for Fairland. Fisher had 30 points, five assists and five steals. Holbrook got 21 points and seven rebounds while Baise scored 11 points to go with three steals. Senior Tanner Schenewark added five rebounds.

“It was senior night and all our seniors played great,” said Speed.

Jack Hart had 11 points with Michael Chapman and Braden Jones added 10 each for Alexander (6-10). Zach Weffler grabbed 10 rebounds.

Fisher scored 10 points and Holbrook eight in the first quarter as the Dragons jumped ahead 23-13.

Fisher and Hart matched each other with six points and both teams scored 16 points in the second quarter to make 39-29 at the half.

But the Dragons took command in the third quarter as Fisher had 10 points and Baise seven to outscore the Spartans 23-11 and build a 62-40 cushion.

Leading scorer and rebounder Evan Salyers sat most of the game in foul trouble and did not score.

The Dragons play at Chesapeake Friday in a showdown for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Alexander 13 16 11 15 = 55

Fairland 23 16 23 12 = 74

ALEXANDER (6-10): Ben Doughty 2 0 0-0 4, Brandon McCarty 2 0 2-2 6, Zach Weffler 2 0 3-4 7, Jarred Jeffers 0 0 0-0 0, Jake Gray 1 1 2-2 7, Michael Chapman 4 0 2-7 10, Jack Hart 5 0 1-2 11, Braden Jones 4 0 2-4 10, Cameron Jeffers 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-44 12-21 55. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Chapman. 3-point goals: 1-8. Rebounds: 29 (Weffler 10). Assists: 8 (Chapman 4). Turnovers: 28.

FAIRLAND (12-5): Jon Baise 4 1 0-0 11, Chad Fisher 9 3 3-7 30, Tanner Schenewark 0 0 1-2 1, Thayer Flynn 0 0 0-0 0, Anthony Dillard 0 0 2-2 2, Evan Maddox 2 0 0-0 4, Blaine Fuller 0 0 1-2 1, Jonathan Holbrook 9 1 0-0 21, Josh Goodman 0 0 0-0 0, Matt Campbell 2 0 0-0 4, Evan Salyers 0 0 0-0 0, Ryan Wooten 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 31-61 7-13 74. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 5-11. Rebounds: 25 (Holbrook 7, Schenewark 5). Assists: 20 (Fisher 5, Maddox 5). Steals: 10 (Fisher 5, Baise 3). Turnovers: 9.