JACKSON - Getting the shots wasn't a problem. Getting the shots to go in the basket was.

Try as they might, the Coal Grove Hornets couldn't connect on their shots Monday as they lost 51-31 to the Portsmouth Trojans in the Division III sectional tournament.

The Hornets were just 11 of 51 from the field for 21.6 percent including one of 17 from the 3-point line. They were also 8 of 21 from the foul line.

Another problem for the Hornets was rebounding. Portsmouth had 51 rebounds to 33 for the Hornets.

"Portsmouth hurt us with their rebounding, but we shot poorly," Hornets coach Darrell Humphreys said. "The other night we shoot 75 percent from the line and pretty well from the field. You aren't going to beat anybody the way we shot the ball tonight no matter who you play."

Coal Grove made some shots early and the score reflected their success. A 3-pointer by Justin Hyland, a short jumper by Evan Melvin and a 17-footer by Randy Wise tied the game 10-10 at the end of the first quarter.

But the lid on the basket closed in the second quarter.

A layup by Adam Bare with 2:25 left in the half got Coal Grove within 18-17, but the Hornets would not score again until Melvin followed up a missed shot with 5:57 to play in the third quarter that made it 29-19.

Portsmouth led 23-17 at the half and went on an 8-0 run to begin the second half.

Melvin had a putback with 3:10 to go in the third quarter and Coal Grove was down 34-24. Portsmouth then went on an 7-2 spurt to close the quarter and take a 41-26 lead.

The cold shooting continued in the fourth quarter as Coal Grove managed to converted only one of 12 field goal attempts. Portsmouth was only 2 of 16 from the field in the quarter but converted 6 of 11 foul shots.

"We had open look after open look, we just couldn't get the shots to drop," Humphreys said.

Bare had 11 points and 10 rebounds to lead Coal Grove. Melvin finished with 9 points and 8 rebounds.

Michael Purdy scored 12 points and A.J. Johnson 9 points for the Trojans.

Portsmouth (5-14) will play Ironton at 6 p.m. Friday in the sectional finals.

Portsmouth10131810-51

Coal Grove10795-31

PORTSMOUTH (5-14):

Justin Nelson 2-12 (0-4) 3-5 7, A.J. Johnson 3-7 (1-3) 2-2 9, Michael Purdy 4-9 (1-4) 3-12 12, Michael Valentine 2-8 (0-3) 2-2 6, Michael Hickman 2-3 (0-0) 0-0 4, Nicholas Chabot 2-2 (1-1) 0-0 5, Jeffrey Pendleton 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Justin Skaggs 0-0 (0-0) 0-2 0, Cody Farney 3-6 (0-0) 0-1 6, Brian Taylor 0-1 (0-1) 0-0 0, Charlie Doll 1-3 (0-0) 0-0 2, Shane Porter 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 19-51

(3-16)

10-24

51. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 16-32=48 (Nelson 12, Farney 7, Hickman 6, Rudy 6). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Assists: 8 (Valentine 5). Steals: 7 (Purdy 3). Turnovers: 15. FG% – 37.3. FT% – 41.7. 3pt% – 18.8.

COAL GROVE (10-11):

Zach Huber 0-8 (0-5) 1-2 1, Evan Melvin 3-14 (0-1) 3-7 9, Justin Hyland 1-2 (1-1) 1-2 4, Randy Wise 1-13 (0-9) 0-1 2, Adam Bare 5-8 (0-0) 1-6 11, Tyler Sexton 0-2 (0-0) 1-2 1, Jim Lemon 1-1 (0-0) 1-1

1, Matt Melvin 0-2 (0-1) 0-0 0, J.D. Elswick 0-2 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 11-51

(1-17)

8-21

31. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Wise (4th 5:36). Rebounds: 9-19=28 (Bare 10, E. Melvin 8). Team/deadball rebounds: 5. Assists: 5 (Huber 2). Steals: 5 (Huber 2, E. Melvin 2). Turnovers: 12.FG% – 21.6. FT% – 41.7. 3pt% - 0.06.