By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PROCTORVILLE — When the defense got better, so did the Fairland Dragons.

Tightening up their defense in the second half enabled the Dragons to pull away from the Gallipolis Blue Devils 55-37 on Tuesday in their season opener.

Fairland trailed at the end of the first quarter and managed to take a one-point halftime lead before a strong second half.

‘We played better defense in the second half. We gave up way too much penetration in the first half,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed.

Evan Salyers had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Dragons. Eric Riley had 15 points and six rebounds while Evan Maddox had eight rebounds.

Nick Saunders scored 7 points in the first quarter as Gallipolis took a 16-8 lead.

Salyers answered with 9 points in the second quarter as Fairland rallied to take a 28-27 halftime lead.

Salyers scored 8 points in the third quarter as the Dragons outscored Gallipolis 16-7 to lead 44-34. Saunders had 5 of the Gallipolis points.

Riley converted 7 of 8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter and the defense held the Blue Devils to just 3 points.

“Riley played well defensively and hit some big foul shots down the stretch. Maddox played a good game defensively and had eight rebounds,” said Speed. “Once Salyers got going he played pretty solid.”

Saunders had 16 points to lead the Blue Devils (1-1).

Gallipolis 16 11 7 3 = 37

Fairland 8 20 16 11 = 55

GALLIPOLIS (1-1): Reid Eastman 0-1 1-2 0-0 3, Justin Bailey 4-8 0-1 1-2 9, Caleb Craft 0-0 0-0 0-1 0, Nick Saunders 3-5 2-4 4-5 16, Bryce Amos 1-9 0-2 2-2 4, Wade Jarrell 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Aaron Jackson 1-2 0-0 0-0 2, Jimmy Clagg 1-4 0-1 1-2 3. Totals: 13-40 8-12 37. 3-point goals: 3-10. Rebounds: 24 (Amos 8, Bailey 5, Clagg 5). Assists: 5. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (1-0): Cody Midkiff 0-0 0-3 0-0 0, Eric Riley 3-6 0-1 9-10 15, Kyle Raines 1-1 0-1 0-0 2, Evan Maddox 1-5 0-4 0-1 2, Blaine Fuller 2-7 0-0 3-6 7, Josh Goodman 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Nathan Campbell 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Evan Salyers 11-21 0-0 1-6 23, Ryan Wooten 3-4 0-0 0-0 6. Totals: 21-54 13-23 55. 3-point goals: 0-9. Rebounds: 36 (Salyers 12, Maddox 8, Riley 6). Assists: 10. Steals: 7. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Wooten.