SOUTH POINT — It has been said that coaches get too much credit for wins, and too much blame for losses.

That’s not the case with South Point Pointers coach Gary Norris.

The Pointers coach put all the credit on his team’s shoulders after a 54-53 win over the Northwest Mohawks Saturday.

“The players won the game. It wasn’t anything I did,” said Pointers’ coach Gary Norris. “We were down 10 points at the end of the third quarter and our guys just came out and played hard. Our defense was outstanding in the fourth quarter.”

Trailing by one, Beau Weed hit a back door layup with seven seconds to play that lifted the Pointers over the Mohawks.

The Pointers had the ball with 30 seconds to play and leading by one but turned the ball over and allowed Northwest to regain the lead.

Norris said during the final timeout the coaches discussed what to do and assistant Matt Tomlinson sold him on the play.

“Coach Tomlinson called it and the players executed it well,” said Norris.

Northwest put up a long 3-point attempt at the buzzer that missed its target.

South Point led 14-13 at the end of the first quarter but the game was tied 26-26 at the half.

Northwest (5-4) outscored the Pointers 21-11 in the third quarter to lead 47-37. The Mohawks led by as many as 13 points with two minutes left in the third quarter.

Norris said the Pointers struggled for three quarters but showed a lot of character as they found a way to win.

“In the last two or three years, this was the type of game we would lose when we deserved to win,” said Norris. “We may not have deserved to win but we did. I guess maybe there is some type of balance or justice.”

Todd Mayo scored 22 points and had five steals to help the Pointers remain unbeaten in eight games. Corey Taylor added 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four blocked shots.

Northwest center Hank Leslie led all scorers with 29 points. Stefan Spriggs scored 15 points, all on 3-pointers.

Northwest1313216=53

South Point14121117=54

NORTHWEST (5-4): Eric Frantz 0 0 0-0 0, Tyler Breech 0 0 0-0 0, James Lens 0 0 0-0 0, Justin Malone 1 0 0-1 2, Kreig Crabtree 0 0 2-2 2, Hank Leslie 14 0 1-2 29, Stefan Spriggs 0 5 0-1 15, Chase Hall 0 1 0-0 3, Ronnie Strickland 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 16 6 3-6 53. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (8-0): Chase Kratzenberg 0 0 0-0 0, Kyle Hughes 3 0 4-4 10, Jordan Foster 0 0 0-0 0, Beau Weed 3 0 0-0 6, Todd Mayo 10 0 2-3 22, Zach Woody 2 0 0-0 4, Drew Lynd 1 0 0-0 2, Corey Taylor 4 0 2-2 10. Totals: 23 0 8-9 54. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 9-9=18 (Taylor 8). Blocked shots: 10 (Taylor 4, Wood 2, Weed 2, Mayo 2). Assists: 7 (Taylor 3). Steals: 10 (Mayo 5, Woody 3). Turnovers: 13.