Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Clutch plays are those made when the pressure is high and the game is on the line.
On Monday, the pressure was mounting and the game was on the line. And the Fairland Lady Dragons finally stepped up and became clutch players.
Bailey Roland hit two crucial 3-pointers to get Fairland back in the game and Jenna Stone’s backdoor layup with 6.8 seconds left enabled the Lady Dragons to rally past the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers 38-36 in a pivotal Ohio Valley Conference game.
The win evened Fairland’s record at 7-7 and gave them a 6-1 league mark as they travel to first place Coal Grove on Thursday.
“We’re always faltering at the end. When we are down, I tell the girls to be mentally tough, play to win. We finally got it done,” said Lady Dragons’ coach Jon Buchanan.
Ironton (9-2, 5-2) trailed at halftime but Lexie Arden took over the game in the third quarter and rallied the Lady Tigers to take a 31-26 lead. She also hit a 12-footer to begin the fourth quarter that opened up a 7-point lead.
But Arden only took three shots in the fourth quarter and Ironton failed to close out the game.
“They made the plays and we didn’t,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham. “We started the game flat and uninspired and that is on the coach.”
The game was just 3-3 after the first quarter as neither team could make a shot. Ironton further hurt its chances with eight turnovers in the quarter and had 18 at halftime. The Lady Tigers finished with 26 turnovers for the game.
Ironton was leading for most of the second quarter until Miaa Howard converted a 3-point play with 2:16 left in the half.
Arden’s 10-footer tied the game but Fairland went on a 5-1 run to end the half to lead 17-13.
Arden scored 9 points in the third quarter including a 3-point with three minutes on the clock that put Ironton ahead 28-26. Riley Schreck then converted a 3-point play with 11 seconds left and Ironton was up 31-26.
Roland hit a 3-pointer to make it 33-29 and then did it again to cut the deficit to 34-32 with 3:40 to play.
A layup by Lydia Hannan gave Ironton a 36-34 lead with 2:13 left, but Roland’s layup tied the game with 1:44 to go and after an Ironton turnover, Stone took a pass from Roland to score and give Fairland the lead.
A five-second call ended Ironton’s final hopes of tying or winning the game.
Arden had a game-high 20 points to lead Ironton. Samantha LaFon had 10 rebounds as Ironton dominated the boards 36-17.
Stone led Fairland with 10 points and Roland added 9.
Ironton goes to Raceland on Wednesday and host Gallipolis on Thursday.
Fairland 3 14 9 12 = 38
Ironton 3 10 18 5 = 36
FAIRLAND (7-7, 6-1): Emma Marshall 2 0 1-4 5, Harlie Lyons 2 0 0-0 4, Bailey Roland 1 2 1-4 9, Jessica King 1 0 0-0 2, Tomi Hinkle 2 0 1-4 5, Jenna Stone 4 0 2-2 10, Miaa Howard 1 0 1-1 3. Totals: 15-44 6-15 38. 3-pt goals: 2-13. Rebounds: 5-O, 12-D = 19 (King 4, Marshall 3). Team/deadball rebounds: 5. Assists: 6 (Hinkle 3, Marshall 2). Steals: 6 (Hinkle 3, Marshall 2). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
IRONTON (9-2, 5-2): Riley Schreck 1 0 1-1 3, Samantha LaFon 0 0 4-6 4, Lydia Hannan 1 0 0-0 2, Elli Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Kirsten Williams 0 1 0-0 3, Evan Williams 1 0 2-2 4, Lexie Arden 8 1 1-3 20. Totals: 13-32 8-12 36. 3-pt goals: 2-7. Rebounds: 10-O, 26-D = 36 (LaFon 10, E. Williams 6, Arden 4). Team/deadball rebounds: 5. Assists: 5. Steals: 6 (Hannan 3, Arden 2). Turnovers: 26. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.