Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — When the South Point offense struggled, the defense was there along with Payne Meadows.

The Pointers used a strong defensive effort and a career-high 27 points by Meadows to beat the Elliott County (Ky.) Lions 61-57 on Friday.

“There were some real positives for us even though we didn’t bring our best shooting game,” said Pointers’ coach Chris Barnes.

“Defensively we played pretty well and Brandon (Barnes) did a good job on (Logan) Nickell. But Payne Meadows really picked up the scoring and that was big for us. And Kurt Adams scored in double digits and we needed that.”

Adams had 10 points and Brandon Barnes 9 points for South Point (3-0).

Hunter Holbrook scored 19 points off the bench to lead the Lions (2-3). Landon Griffith added 10 points.

“They brought a kid off the bench who hit three straight 3s from about 30 feet. There wasn’t much we could do about that. They were a scrappy bunch,” said coach Barnes.

South Point took a 20-8 first quarter lead before the Lions hit five 3-pointers in the second quarter and pulled within 33-31 at the half.

Meadows scored 15 points in the second half and Barnes had 5 points in the fourth quarter that helped rally the Pointers who trailed by one point with 2:30 to play.

Elliott County 8 23 12 14 = 57

South Point 20 13 9 19 = 61

ELLIOTT COUNTY (2-3): Logan Nickell 1 1 4-5 9, Jonathan Sloas 0 0 0-0 Jesse Flanery 0 0 0-0 0, Isaiah Griffith 1 1 0-2 5, Aaron Elliott 2 0 1-1 5, Landon Griffith 2 2 0-0 10, Reece Griffith 1 1 0-0 5, Hunter Holbrook 1 5 2-3 19, Collin Howell 1 0 2-2 4. Totals: 9 10 9-13 57. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (3-0): John Johnson 1 0 2-2 4, Evan Williams 0 0 2-2 2, Austin Majher 1 0 0-0 2, Kurt Adams 2 2 0-0 10, Payne Meadows 11 0 5-5 27, Brandon Barnes 3 0 3-6 9, Brandon Boggs 3 0 1-2 7. Totals 21 213-17 61. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.