Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

ASHLAND, Ky. — The Coal Grove Hornets didn’t just open up their season on Monday, they blew the lid off the jar.

Coal Grove placed five players in double figures as they crushed the Rose Hill Royals 78-18.

Conor Markins, Sean Paulus and Isaiah Gunther all scored 13 points each to lead the Hornets. Alex Bare was right behind with 12 points and Brandon Adkins scored 10 points.

Coal Grove shot 30 of 64 from the field for 46.9 percent. The Hornets were 23 of 43 from 2-point range for 53.5 percent and they were 7 of 21 from 3-point range for 33 percent.

Travis Dudding had 10 points and Nathan Hamilton 8 points for Rose Hill (1-3).

Markins scored 6 points and Paulus 5 more in the first quarter as Coal Grove erupted to take a 23-2 lead.

The Hornets outscored the Royals 13-6 in the second quarter to make it 36-8 at the break.

Bare scored 6 points and Paulus drained a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter. The defense limited Rose Hill to 3 points as the lead ballooned to 60-11.

Gunther had 8 points in the fourth quarter to outscore Rose Hill by himself..

Coal Grove returns to action on Tuesday as they visit Southern Ohio Confernece Div. I preseason favorite Portsmouth Notre Dame.

Coal Grove 23 13 24 18 = 78

Rose Hill 2 6 3 7 = 18

COAL GROVE (1-0): Conor Markins 3-7 3-7 4-4 13, Kyle Estep 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Heath Estep 0-1 0-0 1-2 1, Jacob Pierce 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Jonathon Joseph 2-4 1-1 0-0 7, Sean Paulus 2-2 3-4 0-0 13, Joe Akers 1-3 0-1 1-1 3, Alex Bare 6-9 0-2 0-0 12, Brandon Adkins 4-6 0-2 2-2 10, Isaiah Gunther 3-5 2-4 1-2 13, Austen “Red” Pleasants 2-5 0-0 0-0 4. Totals: 30-64 9-11 78. 3-point goals: 7-21. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

ROSE HILL (1-3): Jacob Daniel 0-0 0-0 0-0 , Travis Dudding 1-2 2-6 2-2 10 Nathan Hamilton 2-4 1-3 1-7 8, Chase Meredith 0-2 0-2 0-0 0, Evan Senters 0-2 0-0 0-0 0, Corey Wilcox 0-1 0-0 0-2 0. Totals: 3-11 3-11 3-11 18. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.