Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — For the first three games of the season, the Fairland Lady Dragons seemed to be stuck in first gear.

That ended Thursday as the Lady Dragons popped the clutch and cruised to a 75-42 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Chesapeake Lady Panthers.

“We felt like we were letting teams dictate the game. We were letting the game come to us,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan.

“We want to play at a fast pace and it showed tonight. The girls played really hard and we finally made some shots.”

Terra Stapleton not only led the Lady Dragons with 16 points and 10 rebounds — both game highs — but she hit a goal with 6:30 left in the third quarter that gave her 1,000 career points.

The Michigan recruit came into the game needing just 9 points to hit the mark. She had 8 in the first half.

Chandler Fulks had 15 points as Fairland improved to 3-1 and 1-0 in the OVC. Mackenzie Riley scored 13, Kelsey Riley had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, and Jenna Fulks had 5 rebounds.

Kaylee Curry scored 14 points and Jordan Porter had 11 points for Chesapeake (3-1, 0-1).

Mackenzie Riley and Fulks scored 5 points each in the first quarter as Fairland jumped out to a 21-8 lead.

Stapleton and Kelsey Riley got 6 points each in the second quarter as the lead grew to 41-21 at the half.

“We did a good job defensively. We limited their shots and we did a good job on (Sydnee) Hall,” said Buchanan.

Stapleton and Chandler Fulks scored 8 points each in the third quarter as Fairland blitzed the Lady Panthers 28-10 to buld a 69-31 cushion.

Buchanan emptied the bench late in the third quarter and let the reserves finish the game.

Chesapeake 8 13 10 11 = 42

Fairland 21 20 28 6 = 75

CHESAPEAKE (3-1, 0-1): Taylor Martin 1 0 0-0 2, Jordan Porter 3 0 5-5 11, Sydnee Hall 0 0 0-0 0, Atiya Spaulding 1 0 0-0 2, Kaylee Curry 6 0 2-4 14, Baylee Mills 2 1 0-0 7, Kelsey Huff 3 0 0-0 6, Laura Rice 0 0 0-0 0, Payton Walsh 0 0 0-0 0, Jozy Jones 0 0 0-0 0. Total: 16 1 7-9 42. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (3-1, 1-0): Terra Stapleton 8 0 0-0 16, Tiffani Christian 1 0 0-0 2, Taylor Staten 0 0 0-0 0, Morgan Manns 0 0 0-0 0, Mollie Morris 1 0 0-0 2, Bri Dickess 0 0 0-0 0, Chandler Fulks 5 1 2-2 15, Mackenzie Riley 5 0 3-4 13, Emily Henderson 0 0 0-0 0, Sarah Warnock 0 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Riley 5 0 0-0 10, Caitlin Stone 0 0 2-4 2, Taylor Perry 2 1 2-2 9, Whitney Huff 0 0 0-0 0, Jenna Fulks 2 0 0-2 4, Maddy Kazee 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 30 2 9-14 75. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: Stapleton 10, K. Riley 5, J. Fulks 5. Assists: K. Riley 4.