Chance Short
chance.short@irontontribune.com

CHILLICOTHE — Fairland lost a slipper and had to exit the dance early thanks to a poor shooting night in the Ohio Div. III Region 19 finals.
Worthington Christian limited the Dragons to just 2-of-19 shooting from behind the arc in a 50-28 slaughter by the Warriors.
“This group has been so good for so long. It has been so fun to work with them. You know it hurts more that they are going to be gone, than the loss in the regional finals. Their unselfishness and sacrifice for what’s best for the group. They set the example,” said Fairland head coach Nathan Speed.
The group of seniors in Clayton Thomas, Jacob Polcyn, Gavin Hunt, Jordan Williams, and Nate Thacker have lost only three conference games in their tenure — winning four district championships, and four Ohio Valley Conference titles, and reaching the regional finals in back to back seasons.
Every story has an ending, however, and the Dragons were simply outmatched in the final chapter.
The Warriors took a comfortable 14-9 lead through one quarter of play, and their defense in the second quarter changed the game.
Worthington Christian made it difficult to find open looks for Porter by sending double teams, denied Polcyn in the high post, and stayed in the shorts of Thomas full court.
The Dragons scored just 5 points in the second quarter and the Warriors had double their score at the half 28-14.
After another 5-point quarter from Fairland in the third, the game was all but over for the green and white. Worthington Christian went up 41-19 heading into the final quarter.
Tyler Kindberg led the Warriors with a game high 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. DJ Moore also played a complete game for Worthington Christian as he played very efficiently. The Central Player of the Year as a junior tallied 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in the victory.
Fairland was led by Aiden Porter with 9 points, two rebounds and three assists. Thomas added 8 points, while Williams scored 6 points and grabbed four rebounds.
The journey for Worthington Christian continues next week at the University of Dayton in the Ohio state final four with hopes of continuing their 17-game win streak.
Fairland 9 5 5 9 = 28
Worthington 14 14 13 9 = 50
FAIRLAND (21-5): Jacob Polcyn 1-4 0-1 0-0 2, Aiden Porter 3-6 0-5 3-4 9, Gavin Hunt 1-3 0-1 0-0 2, Clayton Thomas 1-2 2-9 0-0 8, Jordan Williams 3-5 0-0 0-0 6, J.D. Thacker 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Zander Schmidt 0-0 0-1 1-2 1, Nate Thacker 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Zack Tooley 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Chase Allen 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Steeler Leep 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Will Davis 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-37 4-6 28. 3-pt goals: 2-17. Rebounds: 15 (Polcyn 5, Williams 3). Assists: 5 (Thomas 3, Porter 2). Steals: 8 (Williams 3, Polcyn 2). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.
WORTHINGTON CHRISTIAN (27-1): D.J. Moore 2-4 2-7 0-0 10, Kobe Buford 0-0 1-1 0-0 3. Tyler Kindberg 5-8 2-4 1-2 17, Sam Johnson 3-5 0-1 1-2 7, Isaiah Hazelwood 2-3 0-0 3-4 7, Drwe Faieta 1-1 0-1 0-0 2, Tommy Anthony 2-2 0-0 0-0 4, JaVaun Robinson 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Daniel Kimbrough 0-1 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-37 5-9 50. 3-pt goals: 5-14. Rebounds: 21 (Moore 5, Hazlewood 5, Kindberg 5). Assists: 5 (Moore 2). Steals: 3 (Moore 3). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.