Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Instead of waiting until later in the game, the Coal Grove Lady Hornets decided to get their engine warmed up before the game.

After sluggish starts their first two games, the Lady Hornets started well and went on to beat the River Valley Lady Raiders 65-42 Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“Before the game in the locker room I told the girls we needed to be ready to play the first half like we have been playing our second half with more intensity,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Rick Roach.

Ashley Adkins scored a game-high 25 points and Jacy Jones had 17 points and 8 rebounds for the Lady Hornets (3-0, 1-0). Morgan Sites and Darrien Hankins added 8 points apiece.

Sites and Katey Erwin each grabbed 10 rebounds against the taller Lady Raiders.

“If you looked at the stats, you would think we area a tall team. But we rebounded well against a team with a huge height advantage and it was a huge help,” said Roach.

Cady Gilmore scored 15 points for River Valley (1-3, 0-1).

Coal Grove took a 17-14 lead at the end of the first quarter and it was 31-28 at the half.

Jones hit a pair of trifectas to begin the second half and the defense held the Lady Raiders to 4 points as the lead ballooned to 46-32.

“I said it last year when Jones was a freshman her court vision was amazing. She is able to end up with loose balls and create shots for herself and her teammates,” said Roach.

“What can I say about Adkins. They tried to deny her the ball and it made her mad as well. You can see what she did.”

The Lady Hornets continued to keep their foot on the gas pedal as they outscored River Valley 19-10 in the fourth quarter.

Coal Grove visits Raceland, Ky., on Monday.

River Valley 14 14 4 10 = 42

Coal Grove 17 14 15 19 = 65

RIVER VALLEY (1-3, 0-1): Chelsea Copley 1 0 6-6 8, Shalin Comer 0 0 0-0 0, Courtney Smith 1 1 0-0 5, Ramsey Warren 0 0 0-0 0, Shelby Brown 3 0 1-2 7, Brea Stout 0 0 0-0 0, Cady Gilmore 1 3 4-4 15, Rachael Smith 0 0 0-2 0, Leia Moore 3 1 0-0 9. Totals: 10 5 11-14 42. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (3-0, 0-0): Jacy Jones 3 3 2-3 17, Ashley Adkins 4 3 4-8 25, Katey Erwin 0 0 4-4 4, Leah Crum 0 0 0-0 0, Brittany Webb 1 0 0-0 2, Leslie Mulkey 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Fleming 0 0 0-0 0, Ashley Collins 0 0 0-0 0, Morgan Sites 4 0 0-0 8, Darrien Hankins 4 0 0-0 8. Totals: 18 6 10-15 65. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.