CHESAPEAKE — When the Coal Grove Lady Hornets changed their focus, everything became a lot clearer.

Forced to alter their game plan, the Lady Hornets held off the Chesapeake Lady Panthers 60-52 Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We concentrated on stopping (Sarah) Rucker and they had some girls who hit some shots,” Coal Grove coach NickMiller said.

“We changed our defense and did a better job. The girls did a good job adjusting.”

Chelsea Markins scored 27 points to lead the Lady Hornets who maintained their lead in the OVC standings at 5-0.

Samantha Hall had 15 points for Coal Grove (9-2) while Jordyn Cox added 11 points.

Rucker, Chesapeake’s 6-for-4 center, scored 18 points. Rachel Harris had 12 points and Paige Nelson 11.

“Chesapeake has improved. They had some girls step up,” Miller said. “I thought Sam Hall did a nice job on Rucker. She had to guard her all night and she was still able to come out and hit a few shots.”

Markins scored six points in the first but Harris and Nelson combined for eight points and Rucker scored seven to put Chesapeake ahead 17-15.

Coal Grove held Chesapeake to two points in the second quarter to build a 26-19 halftime lead.

Rucker scored seven points in the third quarter but Markins scored seven more points and the Lady Hornets were up 42-35.

Coal Grove had a five-point lead with five minutes to play and began to hold the ball. Chesapeake was forced to foul and the Lady Hornets converted 14 of 21 from the line in the quarter.

“We made enough foul shots down the stretch to hang on and win,” Miller said. “I thought Markins played really well.”

Coal Grove15111618=60

Chesapeake1721617=52

COAL GROVE (9-2, 5-0): Samantha Zornes 0 0 2-2 2, Brittney Harrison 2 0 0-0 4, Jordyn Cox 0 1 8-12 11, Taylor Sexton 0 0 0-0 0, Traci Tackett 0 0 1-3 1, Maggie Young 0 0 0-0 0, Chelsea Markins 8 1 8-15 27, Samantha Hall 7 0 1-2 15. Totals: 17

2

20-34

60. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.

CHESAPEAKE (3-8, 1-5): Rachel Harris 5 0 2-2 12, Holly Black 0 0 2-2 2, Nikki Lindsey 0 0 0-0 0, Paige Nelson 3 0 5-6 11, Susan Jaime 2 0 3-4 7, Tasha England 1 0 0-0 2, Sarah Rucker 7 0 4-6 18. Totals: 17

0

14-18

52. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Jaime.