By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PROCTORVILLE — Control was everything.

The Wheelersburg Pirates controlled the game in the first half and had the lead, but the Fairland Dragons took control in the second half and rallied for a 52-38 win on Tuesday.

“They dictated the tempo in the first half,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed. “Coach (Tom) Barrick is a good coach and he does what he has to do to win. This was a good win because of how well-coached they are.

“We made some changes at halftime and we did a better job of attacking them offensively and defensively and matching their intensity.”

Fairland led just 8-6 after the first quarter, but Clay Massie scored 6 points in the second quarter as Wheelersburg rallied to take a 17-12 halftime lead.

Evan Salyers had all 4 of Fairland’s points in the second quarter.

The Dragons changed the tempo of the game in the third quarter. Salyers scored 10 points as Fairland outscored the Pirates 25-10 to take a 37-27 lead.

Salyers had 6 points in the fourth quarter to match 6 by the Pirates’ Dylan Miller as Fairland continued to pull away.

“They did things better than us in the first half, but we were able to get things turned our way in the second half. That was the difference,” said Speed.

Salyers led the Dragons (6-1) with a game-high 21 points to go with 10 rebounds and 4 steals. Evan Maddox had 11 points and 4 assists while Eric Riley had 9 of his 10 rebounds in the second half.

“Riley came up big for us in the second half,” said Speed.

Derek Moore, Massie and Miller scored 9 each for the Pirates (1-5). Miller had 10 rebounds.

Fairland held a 35-23 rebound advantage and forced the Pirates into 20 turnovers. Fairland had just 10 turnovers.

The Dragons host Meigs next Tuesday.

Wheelersburg 6 11 10 11 = 38

Fairland 8 4 25 15 = 52

WHEELERSBURG (1-5): Eddie Miller 2-8 1-3 0-2 7, Alex Shears 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Aaron Cowgill 1-3 0-0 0-0 2, Clay Massie 2-6 1-3 2-3 9, Brett Hood 1-2 0-0 0-0 2, Dylan Miller 2-5 1-2 2-4 9, Derek Moore 1-5 1-1 4-6 9. Totals: 13-38 4-9 38. 3-point goals: 4-9. Rebounds: 23 (D. Miller 10). Assists: 6. Steals: 5. Turnovers: 20. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.

FAIRLAND (6-1): Thayer Flynn 0-0 0-1 0-0 0, Cody Midkiff 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Alec Warner 0-2 0-0 1-2 1, Eric Riley 3-4 0-0 3-9 9, Evan Maddox 3-4 1-2 2-2 11, Blaine Fuller 2-8 0-0 4-6 8, Nathan Campbell 0-0 0-1 0-2 0, Evan Salyers 10-20 0-0 1-1 21, Ryan Wooten 1-2 0-0 0-0 2. Totals: 20-46 11-22 52. 3-point goals: 1-4. Rebounds: 35 (Salyers 10, Riley 10). Assists: 12 (Maddox 4, Campbell 4). Steals: 12 (Riley 5, Salyers 4). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.