Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — Like most sequels, this one didn’t match the original. But it was a hit with the Fairland Dragons, anyway.
Fairland won the first meeting with South Point 104-81. But Tuesday’s Ohio Valley Conference game saw the Dragons’ defense take over as they beat the Pointers 70-45.
Fairland (14-3, 9-0) was led by Isaiah Howell with 23 points, 10 rebounds and three steals while Kollin Van Horn had 15 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Keedrick Cunningham added 10 points and Ty Wilcoxon had six rebounds and four steals.
South Point (7-8, 3-6) was paced by Tayshaun Fox with 19 points, four assists and two blocks. Austin Webb had 11 points and nine rebounds with two blocks.
The lead changed hands eight times in the first quarter before a 3-pointer by Fox with 18 seconds on the clock put the Pointers up 14-11.
The lead changed hands twice early in the second quarter. Fox hit a basket at the 4:14 mark and South Point had its final lead at 18-17.
Van Horn scored nine seconds later as Fairland took the lead for good at 19-18. Fairland then scored 11 unanswered points to end the half and led 28-18.
Cunningham hit a couple of baskets, Van Horn a free throw, Howell scored and Luke Thomas hit a 3-pointer and the lead was 38-18 at the 5:22 mark of the third quarter.
Douglas Shaffer hit a trifecta at the buzzer as the Pointers got within 48-31.
Shaffer scored again to start the fourth quarter but the Dragons pulled back out to a 57-37 lead on a basket by Ty Staten with 4:13 to go. Howell and Staten both hit baskets and it was 68-42 with 1:21 left.
South Point hosts Rock Hill on Wednesday. On Friday, the Pointers visit Gallipolis and Fairland hosts Portsmouth.
Fairland    11    17    20    22    =    70
South Point    14     4    13    14    =    45
FAIRLAND (14-3, 9-0): Isaiah Howell 7 2 3-4 23, Ty Staten 2 0 2-2 6, Luke Thomas 0 2 1-2 7, Chase Fisher 0 0 0-0 0, Joel Lambiotte 1 0 2-2 4, Kollin Van Horn 7 0 1-5 15, Matt Mondlak 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Gartin 0 0 0-0 0, Keedrick Cunningham 5 0 0-0 10, Ian Chinn 0 0 0-0 0, Ty Wilcoxon 1 0 1-2 3, Clayton Thomas 0 0 0-0 0, Andy Lang 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 28-63 10-17 70. 3-pt goals: 4-15. Rebounds: 20-O, 27-D = 47 (Van Horn 13, Howell 10, Wilcoxon 6). Assists: 15 (Staten 5). Steals: 10 (Wilcoxon 4, Howell 3, Van Horn 2). Blocks: 5 (Van Horn 3). Turnovers: 16. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.
SOUTH POINT (7-8, 3-6): Chance Gunther 1 0 0-0 2, Derek McCarty 0 0 0-0 0, Roger Staggs 1 0 2-3 4, Douglas Shaffer 2 0-0 7, Jared Whitt 0 0 0-0 0, Tayshaun Fox 6 2 1-4 19, Brody Blackwell 0 0 0-0 0, Marcus Malone 0 0 0-0 0, Dustin McCarty 0 0 2-2 2, Austin Webb 5 0 1-5 11. Totals: 18-43 6-14 45. 3-pt goals: 3-17. Rebounds: 3-O, 19-D = 22 (Webb 9, Gunther 4). Assists: 5 (Fox 4). Steals: 2 (Gunther 2). Blocks: 4 (Fox 2, Webb 2). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.