SOUTH POINT – Mark Lafon didn’t like the sight on the scoreboard, but he did like what he saw on the floor.

Wednesday, December 19, 2001

SOUTH POINT – Mark Lafon didn’t like the sight on the scoreboard, but he did like what he saw on the floor.

The Pointers gave a strong effort but came up short as they lost 70-58 to the Portsmouth Trojans Tuesday.

"I saw a lot of good things out of our kids tonight," Pointers coach Mark Lafon said. "I knew we had to play a great game to beat them, and we didn’t shoot the ball well. But we still had our chances and I know we can play better."

Portsmouth (2-2) was led by R. K. Thurman with 22 points and 12 rebounds while Ash Green scored 20. Jerald Froe chipped in 14 points and Antonio Malone got 10.

South Point (2-2) was led by Shane Holsinger with a game-high 31 points. Bryan Maggard had seven rebounds and Justin Eaches eight assists.

The Trojans held a 24-19 rebound advantage.

"We didn’t outrebound them, but we rebounded with them," Lafon said. "Portsmouth is a good team and coach (Rick) Hopkins is doing a good job with them."

Portsmouth was up just 18-17 after the first quarter and pulled away to a 44-37 halftime advantage.

Both teams had trouble scoring the third quarter as Portsmouth went up 52-43.

South Point got within four points of the lead in the fourth quarter but could not get any closer.

"The key was their ability to get a bucket when they needed it. And they forced a lot of turnovers ," Lafon said.

The Pointers play at South Webster Saturday.

Portsmouth 18 26 8 18 – 70

South Point 17 20 6 15 – 58

PORTSMOUTH (2-2): Bradley Parker 0 0 4-6 4, Jerald Froe 4 2 0-0 14, Antonio Malone 4 0 2-4 10, Ash Green 6 2 2-2 20, R. K. Thurman 9 0 4-5 22, Devon Deplain 0 0 0-0 0, Jo Jo Parker 0 0 0-0 0, Jermain Bolden 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 4 12-17 70. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 24 (Thurman 12). Assists: 17 (B. Parker 12). Turnovers: 15.

SOUTH POINT (2-2): Donte Pennington 1 0 0-2 2, Justin Eaches 3 0 0-0 6, Adam Workman 1 1 0-0 5, Shane Holsinger 8 2 9-11 31, Bryan Maggard 3 0 0-0 6, Seth Craft 1 2 0-0 8, Patrick McCleary 0 0 0-0 0, Jonathan Greene 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 5 9=13 58. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 19 (Maggard 7). Assists: 16 (Eaches 8). Turnovers: 16.