Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — The Coal Grove Hornets saved their best for last.

The Hornets trailed throughout the game but used a strong fourth quarter to rally past the South Point Pointers for a thrilling 70-67 Ohio Valley Conference win on Friday.

Conor Markins led all scorers with 23 points — 15 in the second half — to lead the Hornets (14-4, 6-3). Alex Bare scored 17 and Brandon Adkins had 13 points with 8 coming in the pivotal fourth quarter.

South Point (8-11, 3-6) had three players in double figures with John Johnson and Payne Meadows scoring 18 each and Brandon Barnes scored 17 before fouling out late.

Trailing 49-47 after three quarters, Coal Grove went on an 8-0 run to begin the fourth quarter to take the lead for good.

Markins tied the game with a short jumper and Bare — who sat out the third quarter with a twisted ankle — scored with 7:10 left to put Coal Grove up 51-49.

Adkins hit back-to-back shots and it was 55-49 with 4:15 left.

Johnson made a 3-pointer but Markins came back with a driving layup. Johnson answered with his own basket but a tip-in by Adkins pushed the lead to 59-54 with 3:20 to go.

Brandon Boggs sank two foul shots for South Point but Sean Paulus converted a 3-point play and it was 62-55 with 2:58 on the clock.

Adkins’ added a foul shot buy Barnes made his own 3-point play to get the Pointers within 63-58 with 2:10 left.

After Markins made two foul shots, Meadows and Johnson each nailed 3-pointers and it was 65-64 with one minute to play.

Bare drove to the basket and was fouled with 42 seconds left. He converted the 3-point play and it was 68-64. Johnson — who scored 11 points in the quarter — drained a 3-pointer to get South Point within one.

Bare was fouled with 12 seconds left and hit both free throws for a 70-67 lead.

South Point set up its final attempts and had two good looks on 3-point attempts but couldn’t get the shots to drop and the Hornets held on for the win.

Meadows scored 7 points in the first quarter to give South Point a 19-12 lead.

Bare scored 6 points in the second quarter as Coal Grove got within 30-28 at the half.

Barnes scored 7 points and Johnson 6 in the third quarter to help offset 9 points by Markins as each team scored 19 points.

Coal Grove visits league-leading Fairland on Tuesday. The Dragons won the first meeting in triple overtime.

South Point hosts River Valley on Tuesday in a league game.

Coal Grove 12 16 19 23 = 70

South Point 19 11 19 18 = 67

COAL GROVE (14-4, 6-3): Trevor Barrett 0 0 0-0 0, Alex Bare 5 0 7-10 17, Sean Paulus 2 1 1-1 8, Isaiah Gunther 0 1 0-0 3, Brandon Adkins 4 0 5-8 13, Conor Markins 5 3 4-6 23, Joe Akers 3 0 0-0 6, Austen “Red” Pleasants 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 5 17-25 70. Fouled out: Gunther.

SOUTH POINT (8-11, 3-6): Phil Kratzenberg 0 0 1-2 1, John Johnson 3 4 0-0 18, Evan Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Stephen Wagoner 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Majher 0 0 2-2 2, Kurt Adams 0 1 0-0 3, Payne Meadows 4 2 4-4 18, Brandon Barnes 4 2 3-7 17, Brandon Boggs 2 0 2-9 6. Totals: 14 9 12-24 67. Fouled out: Barnes.