By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

ZANESVILLE — “Sing a song of long ago

When things were green and moving’ slow…

It’s a real nice way

To spend the day

In Dayton, Ohio

On a lazy Sunday afternoon in 1903.”

That’s Randy Newman’s song “Dayton, Ohio – 1903” but it can’t match the song being sung by the Fairland Lady Dragons as they are about to spend the weekend in Dayton, Ohio – 2024.

The Lady Dragons used a fast and dominating start to build a big lead and went on to rout the previously unbeaten Sheridan Lady Generals 58-31 to win the Division 2 regional championship for the second straight season.

Fairland (26-1) will now play in the state semifinals at 11 a.m. on Friday at Dayton University’s UD Arena against Shaker Heights Laurel who beat Springboro 53-32.

Things will be green as the Lady Dragons invade the UD Arena but don’t expect them to be moving slow as they proved against Sheridan.

Fairland opened the game with a 15-0 run fueled by a pair of 3-point goals by Bree Allen and capped by Addison Godby’s 2 free throws for a 15-0 lead.

Peyton Powell ended the run with a free throw at the 2:10 mark but Bailey Russell came right back and drilled a 3-pointer and the lead was 18-1.

A layup by Kylee Bruce made it 20-2 for the Lady Dragons biggest lead of the first half.

Mylie Forgrave’s layup to end the quarter had Sheridan down 20-4.

Halle Warner made a layup and Nora Shaffell hit a 3-pointer as the Lady Generals cut the deficit to 20-9, but Fairland answered as Bruce hit a deep 3-pointer and Isa Taliaferro made a layup for a 25-9 lead.

Russell’s layup put the lead at 27-11 but Saffell and Jamisyn Stinson head layups to make it 27-16 with 3:08 left in the half.

Russell hit another 3-pointer — she was 4-of-4 from behind the arc — and it was 30-16. Powell’s 2 free throws with 31 seconds left made it 30-18 at the half.

Godby had a layup and Russell a steal and layup to begin the second half only to have Saffell hit a 3-pointer and Stinson to convert a 3-point play and the Lady Generals were down just 34-24 with 4:28 on the clock.

Fairland was unfazed as Allen hit a trey, Russell made a 13-footer and then Allen and Russell made back-to-back 3-pointers as the lead ballooned to 45-24.

Stinson sank a free throw to begin the fourth quarter to make it 45-26, but Allen and Russell again buried 3-pointers and Bruce made a layup as the lead shot to 53-26.

Sheridan could get no closer than 53-30 after a foul shot by Saffell and a 3-pointer by Stinson. Fairland then outscored Sheridan 5-1 to finish the game and give the Lady Dragons their fourth trip to the Final Four.

Fairland’s previous Final Four appearances were 2014, 2015 and 2023.

Russell scored 22 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists to lead the Fairland offense. Allen scored 17 points to go with 3 assists and 2 steals. Bruce had 9 points and 7 rebounds with Godby getting 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

The Lady Dragons shot 22-of-50 from the field for 44 percent including 11-of-27 from behind the arc for 41 percent.

Stinson had 11 points and Saffell 9 to pace Sheridan (26-1).

The Lady Gators (18-10) and Fairland have a common opponent in Portsmouth. The Lady Trojans beat Laurel 46-38 on Jan. 15. Fairland split its 2 games with Portsmouth.

Laurel’s only previous Final Four appearance was in 2021.

Laurel is led by 5-11 sophomore Saniyah Hall who averages 26.4 points and 11.2 rebounds a game. Tristan Williams — a 5-8 sophomore — averages 14.5 points and 4.3 rebounds. No other Lady Gator averages double figures.

All 5 of Fairland starters average double figures.

Sheridan  4 14 7 6 = 31

Fairland    20 10 15 3 = 58

SHERIDAN (26-1): Jamisyn Stinson 2 1 4-6 11, Halle Warner 1 0 0-0 2, Ava Heller 0 0 1-4 1, Addi Shaeffer 0 0 0-0 0, Mylie Forgrave 1 0 0-0 2, Morgan Tingler 0 0 0-0 0, Payton Powell 1 0 4-6 6, Jenna Stewart 0 0 0-0 0, Nora Saffell 1 2 1-4 9, Lainey Miller 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 6 3 10-20 31. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (26-1): Addison Godby 1-5 0-0 3-4 5, Bree Allen 1-4 5-9 0-2 17, Kamryn Barnitz 0-1 1-7 0-0 3, Bailey Russell 5-6 4-4 0-0 22, Kylee Bruce 3-6 1-4 0-0 9, Isa Taliaferro 0-1 0-3 0-0 2, Teagan Leep 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Hannah Taylor 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Sierra Pemberton 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Katie McIntyre 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Avery Byers 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-50 3-6 58. 3-pt goals: 11-27. Rebounds: 36 (Bruce 7, Godby 7, Russell 7). Assists: 16 (Godby 4, Allen 3, Taliaferro 3, Russell 3). Steals: 5 (Allen 2). Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.