By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

JACKSON — There were some things the Fairland Lady Dragons didn’t do, but they still did some things they needed to do.

Like win.

Despite a sluggish performance, the Lady Dragons beat the Crooksville Lady Ceramics 50-37 on Saturday to win the Division III sectional title.

“We didn’t play well and we didn’t take care of the ball very well. We forced it a little,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan.

“But we did a good job on the boards and limited them to one shot. We defended when we needed and we won and that’s what I was happy about.”

Terra Stapleton had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocked shots as Fairland (21-0) advanced to the district semifinals at noon next Saturday against Portsmouth West at the Waverly downtown arena.

Kayla Swiger added 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Taylor German scored 20 points to lead Crooksville (10-11).

German had 7 points in the first quarter as the Ceramics took a 9-7 lead.

Swiger came off the bench and hit three 3-pointers and a pair of foul shots and Fairland surged to a 26-18 halftime lead.

“They were swarming Terra and Swiger came in and kind of gave us a boost,” said Buchanan.

Stapleton had 6 points in the third quarter as the Lady Dragons extended their lead to 41-26.

German scored 7 points in the fourth quarter but Stapleton countered with 6 points of her own.

Crooksville 9 9 8 11 = 37

Fairland 7 19 15 9 = 50

CROOKSVILLE (10-11): Brianna Finck 1-2 1-5 0-1 5, Hannah Cavinee 0-2 0-0 0-0 0, Jaden Derwacter 0-0 0-2 0-0 0, Shelbi Van Meter 0-4 0-0 0-0 0, Ashley Alfman 0-1 0-1 3-6 3, Taylor German 3-8 2-8 8-14 20, Hillary Taylor 2-2 0-1 2-2 6, Macey Anders 0-3 1-9 0-2 3. Totals: 10-48 13-25 37. 3-point goals: 4-26. Rebounds: 26 (Anders 9, Van Meter 5). Blocked shots: 3 (Anders 2). Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Alfman.

FAIRLAND (21-0): Terra Stapleton 9-12 0-0 3-3 21, Katie Fuller 2-6 1-1 2-5 9, Kayla Swiger 0-1 3-6 3-4 12, Jaimie Phillips 0-4 0-0 2-2 2, Chandler Fulks 0-1 0-3 0-0 0, Lauren Poe 0-2 0-0 0-0 0, Kelsey Riley 2-5 0-0 2-2 6, Mackenzie Riley 0-1 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-42 12-16 50. 3-point goals: 4-10. Rebounds: 38 (Stapleton 10, K. Riley 8, Phillips 7, Swiger 7). Assists: 14 (K. Riley 4, Philips 3). Steals: 7 (Fuller 2). Turnovers: 22. Blocked shots: 8 (Stapleton 6). Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Swiger.