By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — Now that the preliminaries are out of the way, it’s time for the main event.

After beating the Portsmouth Trojans 64-43 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Tuesday, the Fairland Dragons can focus all their attention on Friday’s showdown with the rival Chesapeake Panthers.

Fairland is 12-0 in the OVC and Chesapeake 11-0 and the winner will be in the driver’s seat toward winning the league title.

Chesapeake survived Ironton 67-61 on Tuesday to set up the clash of league unbeatens. Fairland — who will be the host on Friday — has both its remaining OVC games against Chesapeake while the Panthers must play Fairland twice and visit Ironton on Tuesday.

Fairland (17-1) jumped in front 22-6 against Portsmouth in the first quarter and were never really threatened. Cliff Fransen had 8 points as he made a pair of 3-oiner and Keegan Smith scored 11 points including 3 of 3 from the foul line.

Fransen had 6 more points in the second quarter and Trevor Lochow hit a 3-pointer and the lead was 33-20 at the half.

Portsmouth (7-12, 4-8) got a couple of 3-pointers from Malachi Loper and Dae’quan Woods hit a trey as he scored 7 points in the second quarter.

The Dragons extended the lead to 48-31 in the third quarter as Brody Buchanan, Fransen and Lochow all hit 3-pointers. Lochow scored 5 points and Smith 4 in the quarter.

Lochow had another trey and scored 5. Points while Fransenhit his fourth 3-pointer of the game in the fourth quarter.

Loper had 6 points including a triple in the quarter for the Trojans.

Fransen had 20 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Dragons. Lochow scored 13 points to go with 5 assists.

Loper scored 18 points and Woods 12 to pace the Trojans.

Fairland. 22 11 15 16 = 64

Portsmouth 6 14 11 12 = 43

FAIRLAND (17-1, 12-0): Gabe Polcyn 2-5 0-1 1-2 5, Gavin Ballard 0-0 0-0 1-2 1, Trevor Lochow 2-4 3-6 0-0 13, Jeremiah Fizer 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Cliff Fransen 3-3 4-6 2-2 20, Keegan Smith 6-6 0-3 3-3 15, Gerald Love 0-1 0-2 0-0 0, Maddox Gee 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Austin Kujac 0-0 0-1 0-0 0, Brody Buchanan 1-6 1-3 1-2 8, Ford Rickard 1-1 0-0 0-0 2, Owen Burcham 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-47 8-11 64. 3-pt goals: 8-22. Rebounds: 17 (Fransen 7, Lochow 3). Assists: 14 (Buchanan 6, Lochow 5). Steals: 8 (Smith 3, Buchanan 2). Turnovers: 5. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH (7-12, 4-8): Dee Parker 0-1 0-0 1-2 1, Dae’quan Woods 4-6 1-6 1-2 12, Malachi Loper 4-5 3-8 1-2 18, Landon Malone 1-2 0-2 0-0 2, Tyson Craft 1-2 0-0 0-0 2, Kayleb Johnson 2-3 0-0 0-2 4, Olynshay McKinley 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Jayden Brewer 2-8 0-1 0-0 4, Fernando Poxes 0-0 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-44 3-8 43. 3-pt goals: 4-17. Rebounds: 23 (Brewer 7, Woods 7, Johnson 4). Assists: 4 (Loper 2). Steals: 1 (Woods). Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.