Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — This time when things got tight, the Fairland Lady Dragons loosened up.

Each time the Chesapeake Lady Panthers tightened the game, the Lady Dragons came up with a big play or a clutch basket as they held on for a 45-4 Ohio Valley Conference win on Thursday.

“To be in a tight game was good for our girls. You’re coming into a game when you’re going to have to play and make some stops. We made enough stops to win,” said Fairland coach Jon Buchanan.

“Give Chesapeake credit. They made a lot of plays and they didn’t quit when they were down, but our girls came back and made a lot of good plays. We got a stop when we needed it.”

Fairland (9-1, 6-1) was led by Taylor Perry with 18 points. Emily Chapman had 11 points and 8 steals while Kelsie Warnock grabbed 8 rebounds.

“Emily Chapman went against a box-and-one and she made a lot of points against that kind of defense and that says a lot for her. I was very proud of her,” said Buchanan.

Chesapeake (9-3, 4-3) was led by Dominique Murphy, Kelsey Huff and Kaylee Curry with 11 points each.

Curry also had 6 rebounds and 4 steals while Hall also had 6 rebounds.

Fairland roared to a 16-3 first quarter lead, but Murphy scored 5 points as the Lady Panthers rallied to get within 20-15 at the half.

Warnock hit back-to-back 3-pointers to begin the second half to open up an 11-point lead. Huff answered with back-to-back treys herself to cut the Fairland lead to 35-25.

“Chesapeake doesn’t normally shoot from outside so we were giving them that shot. To their credit, they knocked them down,” said Buchanan.

Curry and Huff combined for 12 points in the fourth quarter to get Chesapeake within 43-41.

But Perry — who made 6-of-8 free throws in the fourth quarter — sank two foul shots with eight seconds to play that made it 45-41.

Murphy hit a 3-pointer with one second to go but the Lady Dragons were able to inbound the ball as time ran out.

“Taylor Perry came up big for us,” said Buchanan.

Fairland visits Belpre on Saturday and Rock Hill on Monday in a league game. Chesapeake goes to Gallipolis on Monday in an OVC game.

Chesapeake 3 12 10 19 = 44

Fairland 16 4 15 10 = 45

CHESAPEAKE (9-3, 4-3): Dominique Murphy 0 2 5-6 11, Bailey Mills 0 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Huff 1 3 0-0 11, Kaylee Curry 2 0 7-10 11, Jozy Jones 0 0 2-4 2, Natalee Hall 2 0 1-2 5, Brooke Webb 1 0 2-2 4. Totals: 11-44 17-24 44. 3-point goals: 5-10. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (9-1, 6-1): Allie Marshall 1 0 1-2 3, Taylar Wilson 0 0 1-2 1, Chapman 3 1 2-2 11, Morgan Fridley 0 0 0-0 0, Emma Fulton 1 0 0-0 2, Kelsie Warnock 0 2 0-1 6, Issy McKinney 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Perry 3 2 6-10 18, Tori Hall 0 0 0-0 0, Alesha Simpson 0 1 1-3 4, Jackie Wagner 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-46 11-20 45. 3-point goals: 6-16. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Simpson, Wilson.