Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
ZANESVILLE — All gas, no brakes.
That’s how Fairland has played all season long. And on the Dragons’ biggest stage this season thus far, they never strayed from their identity.
Fairland’s run-and-gun offense clicked early on Friday, leading the team to a 20-4 lead before Sheridan knew what it had run into.
The fast start, alongside a stifling defensive performance, aided the Dragons (26-1) to a 58-31 win over the Generals at Zanesville High School — marking the team’s second consecutive regional crown and punching a ticket to Dayton’s Final 4.
“I go back to how well we played defense,” Fairland coach Jon Buchanan said. “We really wanted to be locked in defensively and I thought we were. [Sheridan] runs a lot of good stuff. We watched film until our eyes bled, I think, during the last couple of days. But our coaching staff did a great job of telling the kids what we wanted to do, and they executed the game plan phenomenally.”
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Bree Allen started the scoring party early, 70 seconds into the action to be exact, before Kylee Bruce followed suit seconds later. Allen then played add-on with a 3 at the 5:30 mark in the first quarter to make it 7-0.
The senior sank yet another triple with 4:50 to go before teammate Kam Barnitz got into the scoring column with a trey of her own. After Addison Godby sank two free throws with 2:59 left, the Dragons had a 15-0 lead.
Sheridan hadn’t yet blinked.
“We felt like we would have a post advantage in one of our three kids. It might’ve been Bree [Allen], it might’ve been [Addison] Godby or it might’ve been Kylee [Bruce],” Buchanan said. “We didn’t think they could guard all three. Then, when they doubled, we could kick it out and shoot the 3. That was what we wanted to do and I thought we did a good job of that.”
After the Generals (26-1) finally graced the scoreboard with a free throw, Bailey Russell answered with a 3 on the other end, making it 18-1. By the end of the first, the Dragons enjoyed a 20-4 lead.
In the second, the offensive paced slowed and Sheridan took advantage.
Led by Nora Saffell and Payton Powell, the Generals managed to cut the deficit to 27-16, thanks to an old-fashioned three-point play from Jamisyn Stinson. But the Dragons’ double-digit lead stayed intact at the break, 30-18.
Saffell hit a 3 early in the third, which was followed by another bucket through contact from Stinson, cutting Fairland’s advantage to 34-24. But that was as close as the Generals could get.
The Dragons, led by Russell, ripped off an 11-0 run to go ahead 45-24 with 2:27 to go — a 3 from Allen, two 3’s and a jumper from Russell.
“[Russell] isn’t scared of a big spot and she hasn’t been since she stepped onto the floor,” Buchanan said. “She’s not scared of the moment and she’s not going to be scared of the moment [in the state tournament], either. She’s just here to ball. We’re fortunate to have her.”
From that point on, the Dragons shifted into cruise control before cutting down regional championship nets for a second straight year and a fourth time in program history.
Statistically, Russell led the Dragons with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists, followed by Allen with 17 points, four boards and two helpers. Bruce had nine points, six rebounds and three assists, and Godby added five points, six rebounds and three helpers.
Sheridan was led by Stinson with 11 points while Saffell had nine points, six rebounds and two assists.
“Our goal was to touch [Stinson] the whole time,” Buchanan said. “If she was on the floor, we had a hand on her. They shot the basketball and whoever was guarding her was not to go get the rebound. They stayed there with her. Our kids were locked in on that game plan.”
The Dragons advance to face either Shaker Heights Laurel in a Division II state semifinal. That contest is scheduled for 11 a.m., Friday at the University of Dayton Arena.
“I think last year, our kids were happy to be at the state tournament and they took it all in,” Buchanan said. “This year, I hope they understand that we’re going to try and win another two-game tournament. We’re there to do that. I don’t think that was our mindset last year. I think, this year, it is.”
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
BOX SCORE
Sheridan: 4-14-7-6 — 31
Fairland: 20-10-15-13 — 58
Sheridan: 9-32 FG, 10-20 FT, 3-14 3pt., 23 rebounds (Heller 8), 16 turnovers, 6 assists (Stinson 2, Saffell 2, Powell 2). Scoring: Stinson 11, Saffell 9, Powell 6, Forgrave 2, Warner 2, Heller 1.
Fairland: 22-53 FG, 3-6 FT, 11-27 3pt., 25 rebounds (Godby 6, Bruce 6), 10 turnovers, 16 assists (Russell 4). Scoring: Russell 22, Allen 17, Bruce 9, Godby 5, Barnitz 3, Taliaferro 2.
SPONSORED BY SCHMIDT FAMILY RESTAURANT GROUP
