Sports
Despite Late Attempted-Comeback, Meigs Fall Short to Fairland
< < Back to despite-late-attempted-comebcack-meigs-fall-short-fairlandMeigs cut its deficit to single digits with 2:30 left in the fourth quarter, but it couldn’t take the game, as the Marauders lost to Fairland 67-53 on Tuesday.
The Fairland Dragons (1-0) took a 52-40 lead as the third quarter came to an end. Fairland started the fourth with a big 3-pointer, while Meigs scored off of a layup to try and keep the game close. But the Dragons made another quick shot to give them a 15-point lead—the largest lead of the game—at 57-42.
Coach Ed Fry called a timeout to calm his team down and his team responded by chipping away at the Fairland lead. The Marauders were able to cut it to single-digits, but continued to turn the ball over at critical times down the stretch.
Fairland took advantage of those turnovers to extend the lead back to 10 points with 1:30 left in the game.
Meigs was looking to foul, but the Dragon’s crisp passing led to easy layups that put the game out of reach for the Marauders. But the game was much more competitive at the beginning.
Both teams came out of the gates on fire. The score went back and forth during the first quarter with Meigs taking a slight 14-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
But in the second, Fairland came out in a full-court press and kept pressure on Meigs the entire game.
Meigs played very well to begin the second quarter and caused Fairland’s coach to call a timeout with 3:41 left in the second, down 20-17. Whatever the coach said in the huddle must have worked, as Fairland went on an 18-4 run to end the half at 35-24.
Senior guard Isaiah English scored six quick points at the beginning of the third quarter to cut the Dragons lead. But, despite English’s best efforts, Fairland was able to keep the lead right around 11 points after Meigs flurry at the beginning of the quarter. With 2:13 left, Meigs trailed 49-38, and was unable to cut the lead to single-digits as the quarter ran out.
Sophomore guard/forward Luke Musser had 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and four rebounds led Meigs. English chipped in with eight points, six boards and four assists. But he only shot 25 percent from the field.
The Marauders had an astonishing 19 turnovers and only nine assists. Meigs also
struggled from the line, shooting only 42 percent (8 for 19).
“Tonight we had several guys taking it to the basket, and when you do that you cause the other team to get fouls,” Fry said.
Senior forward Chance Short put up 18 points, two rebounds and three assists, while Nathan Campbell shot a perfect 100 percent from the field with nine point, seven boards and seven assists. The Dragons also had their struggles with turnovers as they turned the ball over 21 times and dished out 20 assists.
“This is a process, you know you play a game and you correct the mistakes,” Fry said. “we are going to get better.”
Meigs upcoming games are at Athens on Dec. 12 and home against Jackson on Dec. 16.
Fairland’s next two games are at home in the BIG E Classic on Dec. 13 and Coal Grove on Dec. 16.