You can’t keep the Coal Grove Hornets down for very long.

After a slow start, the Hornets picked up their energy level and beat the Portsmouth West Senators 51-34 on Wednesday.

Coming off a win over Rock Hill on Tuesday, the Hornets were feeling the effects of playing back-to-back nights.

“Our kids were tired and played flat early. But we came to life and played pretty well after that,” said Hornets’ coach Randy Ward.

Cody Damron had 14 points and Wayne Sparks 12 points for the Hornets (11-8). They outrebounded West 33-19 as Sparks grabbed seven rebounds and Damron five.

Trevon Pendleton scored 16and Alfie Bricker 10 for West (3-16).

Damron got five points in the first quarter as Coal Grove went up 11-4. Sparks scored six in the second quarter and it was 27-10 at the half.

Sparks had six more in the third quarter to offset six by Pendleton and the lead grew to 42-17.

The Hornets host River Valley on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Coal Grove 11 16 15 9 = 51

Ports. West 4 6 7 17 = 34

COAL GROVE (11-8): Eric Edens 2 0 4-6 8, Evan Ferguson 3 0 0-0 6, Devin Monnier 1 1 1-2 6, Wayne Sparks 5 0 2-2 12, Cody Damron 4 1 3-8 14, Shannon Goodwin 0 1 0-0 3, Dane Haukedahl 0 0 0-0 0, Rye Goodwin 0 0 0-0 0, Nate Sullivan 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Pauley 0 0 0-0 0, Colton Bryant 0 0 0-0 0, Brian Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0, John Kazee 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 17 2 10-18 51. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 33 (Sparks 7, Damron 5). Assists: 8 (Edens 4). Steals: 9 (Edens 3, S. Goodwin 3). Turnovers: 23.

PORTSMOUTH WEST (3-16): Travis Perry 2 0 1-1 5, Alfie Bricker 2 2 0-0 10, Trevon Pendleton 7 0 2-3 16, Cody Groves 1 0 1-4 3, Kyle Auger 0 0 0-3 0, Levi Ratcliff 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 2 4-11 34. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 19. Steals: 9 (Pendleton 6). Turnovers: 20.