Fairland claims undisputed OVC cage
title with 66-46 victory over Gallipolis
Visiting Fairland captured the undisputed 2015-16 Ohio Valley Conference basketball championship Tuesday night by turning back host Gallipolis 66-46 before a good sized Senior Night crowd.
The Dragons improved their overall record to 16-4 and OVC mark to 12-0. FHS has two OVC games remaining at Portsmouth and South Point this weekend. No other OVC team can catch the Dragons.
Gallipolis dropped to 7-13 overall and 5-8 in OVC play. The Blue Devils have two games remaining on this year’s schedule, both on the road Friday and Saturday at Jackson and Portsmouth. Monday, GAHS will battle Greenfield at Ross-Southeastern in the 2015-16 Division III Sectional Tourney opener at 6:15 p.m.
Gallipolis was able to stay with the speedy Dragons for one quarter and two minutes Tuesday but after the Blue and White took a 17-14 lead with 7:27 left in the second period, FHS ripped off 13 straight points to take a 26-17 lead with 4:21 in the half.
FHS was never headed. Fairland led 43-25 at halftime after scoring 30 second quarter points to Gallia’s 10.
After three periods, FHS led 52-31.
Fairland played all 12 players in the win. The Dragons roster includes one freshman, eight sophomores, one junior and two seniors.
The Dragons placed three players in double figure scoring, led by 6-6 sophomore Kellin Van Horn’s 21 points. Former Gallipolis resident Isaiah Howell was next with 18. Howell is a 6-2 sophomore. Luke Thomas, 6-0 sophomore finished with 15 markers.
Fairland sank 25 of 46 field goal attempt s(mostly layups) for 54.3 percent. At the line, Fairland was 13 of 21 for 61.9 percent. Fairland picked off 34 rebounds, led by 6-7 sophomore Darius Stapleton’s nine snags. Fairland had 13 personals and 15 turnovers.
Gallipolis placed two players in double figure scoring, led by Wes Jarrell’s 13 points. Devin Henry added 12, Gallipolis sank 13 of 47 field goal attempts for 27.6 percent. At the line, GAHS was 8 of 14 for 51.1 percent. GAHS picked off 25 rebounds, nine by Jarrell, The Blue Devils had 14 turnovers (nine in the second period) and 17 personal fouls.
Coach Harrison played all 11 players dressed and started five seniors on senior night. Making their final home appearance as Blue Devil cagers were Wes Jarrell, Kole Carter, Devin Henry, Russ Matthew, Clay Smith, and Drew VanSickle.
In the JV game, the Blue Imps downed Fairland, 47-35. Fairland led 10-9 after one period. GAHS led 20-17 at halftime and 34-24 after three periods.
The Blue Imps improved to 10-10 on the year. Fairland dropped to 6-9.
Cory Call led GAHS with nine points. Don Armstrong and Gage Harrison had eight apiece and Justin McClelland added seven.
Varsity box score:
FAIRLAND (66)–Staton, 0-0-0-0-0; James, 0-0-0-0-0; Ashton, 2-0-0-0-4; Staten, 0-0-0-0-0; Van Horn, 8-0-5-6-21; Howell, 6-(1)-3-4-18; Short, 1-(1)-4-6-5; Thomas, 4-(1)-4-6-15; Stapleton, 1-0-1-2-3; Cunningham, 0-0-0-0-0; Fisher, 0-0-0-0-0; Lambiotte, 0-0-0-0-0. TOTALS 22(3)-13-21-66.
GALLIPOLIS (46)—Cornwell, 1-(1)-0-1-5; Jarrell, 5-0-3-5-13; Wiseman, 0-0-0-2-0; Carter, 1-0-2-2-4; Matthew, 1-0-0-0-2; Thomas, 0-0-0-0-0; McClelland, 0-0-2-2-2; Henry, 1-(3)-1-2-12; Smith, 0-0-0-0-0; VanSickle, 3-0-0-0-6. TOTALS 12-(1)-8-14-46.
Score by quarters:
Fairland…….13 30 9 14 – 66
Gallipolis……15 10 8 13 – 46
JV score—Gallipolis 47 Fairland 35.