Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Now that’s the way to start the season.

Conor Markins poured in 25 points and the Coal Grove Hornets used a team effort to rolled past the Portsmouth West Senators 72-44 Tuesday in their season opener.

Brandon Adkins added 11 points as nine different players scored for the Hornets.

Michael Davis had 18 points and Michael Hafer 12 to lead West.

Davis hit a pair of 3-pointers and Steve Irwin added a triple to keep West close early, but Markins drove for a layup just before the end of the quarter and Coal Grove led 14-11.

Joe Akers scored inside and Sean Paulus hit a 3-pointer to open the second quarter for the Hornets. Paulus then found Markins open for a triple to make it 21-13.

Isaiah Gunther made two straight baskets and Adkins had a putback and a 3-pointer as Coal Grove opened up a 31-19 halftime lead.

Markins started the second half with a pair of free throws, Adkins went coast-to-coast and and Paulus converted a three-point play and Coal Grove led 38-22 at the 6:37 mark.

Austin Pleasants followed up a missed shot and added another basket as the lead grew to 42-22 with 4:08 on the clock.

Markins’ steal and basket followed by an Akers’ basket pushed the lead to 51-23 with 2:25 left in the quarter. It was 52-30 at the end of the period.

Pleasant fed Markins for two straight 3-pointers to begin the fourth quarter and Jonathan Joseph hit a basket and a trey as the cushion reached 64-41 with six minutes to play.

Ports. West 11 8 11 14 = 44

Coal Grove 14 17 21 20 = 72

PORTSMOUTH WEST (0-1): Dylan Kouns 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Davis 4 3 1-2 18, Steve Irwin 1 1 2-2 7, Austin Bricker 1 0 2-2 4, Christian Martin 0 1 0-0 3, Michael Hafer 3 1 3-5 12, Bryson Hurd 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 6 8-11 44. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (1-0): Travis Carey 0 0 0-0 0, Isaac Fields 1 0 0-0 2, Jonathan Joseph 1 1 0-0 5, Sean Paulus 0 1 2-4 5, Isaiah Gunther 2 1 1-2 8, Brandon Adkins 4 1 0-0 11, D.J. Miller 0 0 3-4 3, Joe Akers 2 0 2-2 6, Conor Markins 7 3 2-3 25, Austin Pleasants 3 0 1-3 7, Jacob Pierce 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 7 11-18 72. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.