COAL GROVE – The backups stepped up.

Saturday, January 06, 2001

COAL GROVE – The backups stepped up. The Coal Grove Hornets were forced to turn to their bench Friday night, and the bench responded with big numbers in an 80-52 rout of the Fairview (Ky.) Eagles.

Eric Tackett came off the bench to score 22 points and Jacob Ball eight as the Coal Grove reserves combined for 35 points.

Jason Winters scored 15 points and had six assists and four steals, Jason Adams got 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals, while Ryan Young got 10 points and Joe Sark six rebounds and six assists to help Coal Grove improve its record to 5-3.

Brandon Waller filled in at point guard for ailing Beau Webb and got high remarks along with the bench from Hornets coach Darrell Humphreys.

"We were kind of worried going into the game because Beau Webb was out with a health problem. He’s our point guard and a captain, and when a kid plays that kind of a role and is out, you’re concerned," said Humphreys.

"Brandon Waller got his first start and he played pretty solid. And Eric Tackett came off the bench and scored 22 and it wasn’t in a mop up situation. We were very encouraged with our bench play. We had 35 points off our bench. You have to be tickled with that."

Fred Nunley scored 12 points and Jeff Adkins 11 to lead Fairview.

Coal Grove raced to a 9-0 lead in the first minute of the game and never looked back. Young scored eight points the first quarter as Coal Grove went up 20-9.

Winters got 10 of his points the second quarter and Adams six more as the Hornets built a 45-23 halftime cushion.

"I was real pleased with Jason Adams. That was his best shooting game. It was nice to see him come around. We’re going to need him in the league," said Humphreys. "And Jason Winters continues to play a nice floor game for us. He’s going to have to help us out at the point guard with Beau out."

Adams scored seven and Tackett five the third quarter as Coal Grove upped its lead to 59-36.

Tackett pumped in 13 points and Ball added four more the fourth quarter as Coal Grove extended its lead.

"We put the ball in the hole tonight. We shot the ball well," said Humphreys.

In the reserve game, Coal Grove (4-2) won 41-31 as Justin Gibson had 12 points while Zac Nance and Paul Rockell scored eight each.

Fairview 9 14 13 16 – 52

Coal Grove 20 25 14 21 – 80

FAIRVIEW: Jeff Adkins 3 1 2-5 11, Tim Morgan 2 1 0-0 7, Fred Nunley 6 0 0-2 12, Ryan DeBord 1 0 0-2 2, Roger Kaylor 2 1 2-2 9, Chris Williams 1 1 0-0 5, Brandon Rhodes 3 0 0-1 6. Totals: 18 4 4-12 52. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (5-3): Jason Winters 2 3 2-2 15, Tim Harrison 1 0 0-0 2, Justin Gibson 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Ball 4 0 0-3 8, Caleb Potter 1 0 1-2 3, Brandon Waller 1 0 0-0 2, Ryan Young 5 0 0-0 10, Eric Tackett 8 2 0-0 22, Joe Sark 1 0 1-2 3, Jason Adams 5 1 2-3 15. Totals: 28 6 6-12 80. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 16-21=37 (Sark 6, Adams 8, Ball 4, Young 4, Potter 4). Turnovers: 14. Assists: 27 (Winters 6, Sark 6, Adams 6, Tackett 4). Steals: 18 (Adams 3, Winters 4, Tackett 2, Sark 2, Young 2). Blocked shot: Sark, Adams, Tackett.