Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — The brass ring was there. The Rock Hill Redwomen just couldn’t get enough fingers wrapped around it.

After losing 65-31 in an earlier meeting, the Redwomen were on the verge of a major upset before the South Point Lady Pointers hit some clutch free throws for a 50-44 Ohio Valley Conference win on Thursday.

“We played hard and we had our opportunities, we just didn’t finish. Every possession was critical at the end and we turned it over a few times and that hurt,” said Rock Hill coach Greg Damron.

“We had some great looks and we couldn’t get anything to fall. But give South Point credit. It was a good effort out of both teams and they made the plays at the end.”

Brett Justice scored 12 points to lead a balanced South Point offense. Abbey Winkler, Brianna Bacon and Aundrea Bradburn scored 10 points each.

Lindy Simpson scored 15 points on five 3-point goals to lead the Redwomen (6-8, 3-3). Brook Knipp scored 11 points, Katie Johnson had 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Kaci Russell grabbed 7 rebounds to go with 6 points.

“Simpson shot the ball well. All the girls played well. I was proud of their effort,” said Damron.

South Point was up 9-5 after the first quarter, but Simpson hit a pair of 3-pointers to help Rock Hill outscore South Point 18-11 in the second quarter to take a 23-20 lead at the half.

Bacon scored 8 of the Lady Pointers 11 points in the quarter.

Justice scored 8 points in the third quarter as South Point rallied to take a 35-34 lead. Knipp scored 6 points for the Redwomen.

Johnson scored 5 points in the fourth quarter as Rock Hill got within 2 points, but the Lady Pointers connected on 9 of 14 free throws as the Redwomen were forced to foul.

Rock Hill hosts Portsmouth Clay on Saturday in a boys-girls doubleheader. The jayvee girls play at 3 p.m. followed by the jayvee boys, varsity girls and varsity boys.

On Monday, South Point hosts Chesapeake and Rock Hill visits Coal Grove in league games.

South Point 9 11 15 15 = 50

Rock Hill 5 18 11 10 = 44

SOUTH POINT (6-6, 4-2): Brett Justice 3 0 6-10 12, Abbey Winkler 4 0 2-3 10, Brianna Bacon 2 2 0-0 10, Aundrea Bradburn 4 0 2-3 10, Olivia Abner 0 0 3-4 3, Brianna Whaley 0 0 2-6 2, Lakin Adams 1 0 0-0 2, Haley Rawlins 0 0 1-4 1. Totals: 14 2 16-30 50. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

ROCK HILL (6-8, 3-3): Lindy Simpson 0 5 0-0 15, Brook Knipp 3 0 5-6 11, Katie Johnson 2 0 6-10 10, Kaci Russell 2 0 2-2 6, Tommi Butler 1 0 0-0 2, Kelsey Blagg 0 0 0-0 0, Madison Damron 0 0 0-0 0, Brooklyn Massie 0 0 0-0 0, Sarah Travis 0 0 0-0 0, Sami Dillon 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 8 5 13-18 44. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Johnson.