Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — Richard Boone said to John Wayne at the end of the movie Big Jake, “You came close mister, but no cigar.”
Wayne ended up getting the cigar and foiling Boone’s character, but that’s a movie and not real life.
The Portsmouth Trojans came close Tuesday night but no cigar as the Fairland Dragons avoided the upset by staging a big fourth quarter rally to win the Ohio Valley Conference game 65-55.
The Dragons not only won the game but clinched their second straight OVC championship. The Dragons are 17-1 overall and 12-0 in the league.
Portsmouth led the game through three quarters but managed just nine points in the fourth quarter as the Dragons got 23.
Luke Thomas had 19 points and 10 rebounds while Gunner Short got 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Dragons. Isaiah Howell had 15 points and six rebounds.
Reese Johnson scored 13 and D.J. Eley 11 to lead the Trojans (13-5, 8-4).
Fairland was 22-of-52 from the field and 5-of-20 from behind the 3-point line. Portsmouth was 15-of-30 from 2-point range but 6-of-23 from the arc.
The Trojans took an 18-15 first quarter lead despite eight points by Short.
Portsmouth led by as many as 10 points in the second quarter and it was 32-26 at the half.
Fairland cut the deficit to 46-42 after three quarters and then Thomas had eight points and Short six in the fourth quarter. The Dragons were 12-of-15 from the foul line with Short going 6-of-6, Thomas 4-of-4 and Howell 2-of-2.
On Friday, Fairland hosts Gallipolis and Portsmouth visits Rock Hill.
Fairland    15    11    16    23    =    65
Portsmouth    18    14    14    9    =    55
FAIRLAND (17-1, 12-0: Ty Staten 2 0 1-2 5, Luke Thomas 1 4 5-7 19, Isaiah Howell 5 1 2-2 17, Joel Lambiotte 0 0 0-0 0, Matt Mondlak 0 0 0-0 0, Keedrick Cunningham 3 0 2-3 8, Dairus Stapleton 0 0 0-0 0, Gunner Short 6 0 6-6 18, Chase Fisher 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-52 16-20 65. 3-point goals: 5-20. Rebounds: 41 (Short 10, Thomas 10, Staten 7, Howell 6). Assists: 10 (Staten 5). Steals: 5 (Thomas 2). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
PORTSMOUTH (13-5, 8-4): D.J. Eley 3 1 2-3 11, Jahmie King 2 0 0-0 4, Daniel Jordan 4 0 1-2 9, Dakota Reynolds 2 0 0-0 4, Mike Malone 0 1 1-2 4, Kendall Reynolds 2 1 2-2 9, Danny Lattimore 0 0 1-2 1, Reese Johnson 2 3 0-0 13, Gage Gambill 0 0 0-2 0. Totals: 21-53 7-13 55. 3-point goals: 6-23. Rebounds: 20 (K. Reynolds 7, Jordan 4). Assists: 6 (Johnson 3, Eley 2). Steals: NA. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.