Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

JACKSON — The South Point Pointers were aware of the situation going into the game and they were aware of the situation going into the fourth quarter.
The Pointers reacted well to what was in front of them as they beat the River Valley Raiders 57-45 in the Division III sectional tournament semifinals on Tuesday night.
South Point went into the game without leading scorer Tayshaun Fox who is out with a knee injury.
In the fourth quarter, the Pointers had just a 3-point lead put managed to outscore the Raiders 18-9 to get the win.
“We got laxed at one point. We did what we needed to do in the fourth quarter,” said Pointers’ coach Travis Wise.
“Gunther played really well. He ran our offense and kept everything going. Staggs played pretty good and Webb really had a big game.”
Austin Webb put up a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Pointers.
Roger Staggs had 10 points and three rebounds, Jared Whitt scored 10 points and had five rebounds while Chance Gunther had five points, seven assists and four rebounds.
South Point (10-13) will now play Alexander at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the sectional finals.
River Valley was paced by Jarret McCarley with 19 points.
Webb scored six points, Staggs had four points and Douglas Shaffer hit a 3-pointer as South Point took a 15-14 first quarter lead.
McCarley scored 11 of the Raiders’ 14 first quarter points. Layne Fitch added a 3-pointer.
In the second quarter, South Point outscored the Raiders 15-7 to open up a 30-21 halftime lead.
Webb scored eight points and Shafer hit a 3-pointer and scored five points to help create some breathing room.
Fitch hit another 3-pointer in the quarter as the Raiders’ offense struggled against the South Point defense.
Webb had eight more points including two free throws in the third quarter but the Pointers managed only nine points. Staggs’ free throw accounted for the other point.
Dustin Barber and McCarley scored five points each in the quarter and both had a three-point play. Patrick Brown added a 3-pointer as River Valley climbed to within 39-36.
But Whitt had eight points including 4-of-6 at the foul line, Staggs scored five points and Gunther went 3-of-4 at the line as the Pointers pulled away.
McCarley had a 3-pointer before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
South Point beat River Valley 78-51 on Jan. 6 in a regular season game. Fox scored 26 points in the win.
River Valley    14    7    15    9    =    45
South Point    15    15    9    18    =    57
RIVER VALLEY (NA): Jarret McCarley 5 2 3-3 19, Layne Fitch 0 2 0-0 6, Rory Twyman 1 0 0-0 2, Kyle Coen 0 0 0-0 0, Dustin Barber 4 0 1-1 9, Patrick Brown 0 1 0-0 3, Chase Caldwell 0 0 0-0 0, Matt Molohan 1 0 0-0 2, Jordan Lambert 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 13 5 4-4 45. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: McCarley.
SOUTH POINT (10-13): Chance Gunther 1 0 3-4 5, Derek McCarty 0 0 0-0 0, Roger Staggs 4 0 2-4 10, Douglas Shaffer 1 2 0-0 8, Jared Whitt 3 0 4-6 10, Brody Blackwell 0 0 0-0 0, Dustin McCarty 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Webb 10 0 4-4 24. Totals: 19 2 13-18 57. Rebounds: 6-O, 20-D = 26 (Webb 10, Whitt 5, Gunther 4). Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.