By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

BIDWELL — The Coal Grove Hornets and River Valley Raiders like to play it close.

Coal Grove held on to win the first meeting 55-54 and followed that up by holding off the Raiders 52-48 Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Bryan Steele scored 19 points to lead the Hornets (11-5, 4-4). Conor Markins had 11 points and Alex Bare added 10.

Ethan Dovenbarger scored 11 points to lead a balanced River Valley (2-12, 0-8).

Coal Grove led 13-9 at the end of the first quarter and built a 31-16 halftime cushion.

The lead was 44-30 after three quarters and then the Hornets held on as the Raiders outscored Coal Grove 18-8 in the fourth quarter.

Coal Grove 13 18 13 8 = 52

River Valley 9 7 14 18 = 48

COAL GROVE (11-5, 4-4): Jordan Beals 2 0 0-0 4, Alex Bare 5 0 0-2 10, Jacob Pauley 0 0 0-1 0, Cotton Bryant 2 0 0-0 4, Conor Markins 5 0 1-6 11, Bryan Steele 9 0 1-4 19, Kyle Estep 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 25 2-13 52. Rebounds: 26. Turnovers: 14.

RIVER VALLEY (2-12, 0-8): Austin Whobrey 0 0 0-0 0, Derek Flint 2 1 1-2 8, Kyle Bays 1 0-0 2, Chris Clemente 2 0 0-0 4, Trey Noble 1 1 0-1 5, Aaron Harrison 4 0 0-0 8, Joseph Lloyd 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Lewis 3 0 2-5 8, Ethan Dovenbarger 4 0 3-5 11. Totals: 20-54 6-13 48. Rebounds: 36. Turnovers: 19.