CHESHIRE - They have the competition staggered. Now for the knockout punch.

The South Point Lady Pointers whipped the River Valley Lady Raiders 60-40 Monday to clinch at least a tie for the Ohio Valley Conference championship. A win at home Wednesday against the same Lady Raiders will give the Lady Pointers the title outright.

"It's always a tough thing to go up there and win, so this was a good effort," Lady Pointers coach Dave Adams said. "It's nice to clinch a tie for the title, but we have higher goals. We want to win out and do as well as we can in the tournament."

Jessica Craft poured in 27 points to lead the Lady Pointers. Sarah Lee added 10 points and 11 rebounds while Latisha Koukos scored 12 points.

South Point is now 15-2 overall and is 7-0 in the OVC.

Ashley Caldwell had 13 points and Christina Naylor 10 to lead the Lady Raiders (3-14, 2-7).

Naylor scored 6 points in the first quarter as River Valley went up 15-14.

But Craft exploded for 16 points in the second quarter and the defense held River Valley to just 5 points to grab a 32-20 halftime lead.

"We played pretty good," Adams said. "It was senior night and they were pumped up and we started off flat.

"The second quarter we played good defense and in the third quarter we played pretty good. Defensively, we're playing better."

Craft had 8 more points in the third quarter and Koukos and Summer Malone added 4 points each as the lead expanded to 49-29.

In the reserve game, South Point won 56-34 as Missy Wheeler scored 12, Allison Queen 9 and Chelsea Damon added 8. Walburn had 11 and Circle 10 for the Raiders.

South Point14181711-60

River Valley155911-40

SOUTH POINT (15-2, 7-0):

Alisha Bridges 1 0 1-2 3, Missy Wheeler 1 0 0-0 0, Jessica Craft 11

0

5-6 27, Sarah Lee 5 0 0-1 10, Latisha Koukos 6 0 0-1 12, Elisha Joyce 0 0 1-2 1, Whitney Woody 0 0 1-2 1, Summer Malone 1 0 2-2 4, Amy Frasure 0 0 0-0 0, Ashley Porter 0 0 0-0 0, Chelsea Damron 0 0 0-0 0, T'Ann Mayo 0 0 0-0 0, Allison Queen 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25

(0)

10-16

60. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

RIVER VALLEY (3-14, 2-7):

Carmen Waugh 2 0 0-0 4, Christina Naylor 5 0 0-0 10, Beth Payne 4 0 0-0 8, Leslie Ward 1 0 1-2 3, Ashley Caldwell 1 1 8-11 13, Letea McAvena 1 0 0-0 2, Margo Fraley 0 0 0-0 0, Kayla Smith 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14

(1)

9-13. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.