Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

DOVER — The Fairland Dragons did what they had to do when they need to do it.

The Dragons shook off a sluggish start and an up-and-down performance to finish strong and beat the Cleveland John Hay Hornets 71-69 on Sunday in the Dover Holiday Classic.

“They were a pretty good team. They were very athletic and we had to adjust to their style of play,” said Fairland coach Nathan Speed.

“I felt we didn’t play well at times, but we picked it up and battled the whole game and played well down the stretch.”

Chance Short led Fairland (5-1) with a game-high 21 points to go with 7 rebounds. Luke Thomas had a solid game with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists while Isaiah Howell added 15 points and 5 rebounds.

Kollin Van Horn finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 6 blocked shots. Nathan Campbell handed out 7 assists.

John Hay took a 56-50 lead at the end of the third quarter despite 7 points by Short.

But the Dragons rebounded by outscoring the Hornets 21-13 in the fourth quarter as Howell scored 11 points and Thomas and Van Horn combined for 10 more.

John Hay had the ball with time running out but missed a 3-point attempt from the corner.

Both teams shot well from the floor but not from behind the 3-point line. Fairland was 32 of 64 for the game for 50 percent but 4 of 16 behind the arc. John Hay was 28 of 61 for 46 percent but only 2 of 16 from the 3-point line.

Fairland visits Gallipolis on Friday.

DOVER HOLIDAY CLASSIC

Fairland 12 23 15 21 = 71

Cleve. Hay 19 16 21 13 = 69

FAIRLAND (5-1): Chance Short 8 1 2-3 21, Gunner Short 0 0 0-0 0, Isaiah Howell 6 1 0-0 15, Nathan Campbell 4 0 0-2 8, Luke Thomas 3 2 1-1 13, Darius Stapleton 1 00-0 2, Tyler Campbell 1 0 0-0 2, Kollin Van Horn 5 0 0-2 10. Totals: 32-64 3-8 71. 3-point goals: 4-16. Rebounds: 30 (C. Short 7, Thomas 7, Van Horn 6, Howell 5). Assists: 22 (N. Campbell 7, Thomas 6). Steals: 3. Blocked shots: 7 (Van Horn 6). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

CLEVELAND JOHN HAY (5-3): Anthony Donerson 1 0 0-0 2, Tariq Fields 3 1 0-0 9, Tavonte Jackson 7 0 4-4 18, Malik Mitchell 6 0 2-2 14, Isaiah Noel 6 0 4-4 16, Michael Ricks 3 0 1-1 7, Devin Smith 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 28-61 11-11 69. 3-point goals: 2-16. Rebounds: 24. Assists: 10. Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.