Sparks’ 3 lifts CG over RH
Published 1:09 am Sunday, January 24, 2010
PEDRO — A high school basketball game consists of 32 minutes. The Coal Grove Hornets needed almost every second Friday night.
Wayne Sparks hit a 3-pointer with three-tenths of second to play as the Hornets beat the Rock Hill Redmen 54-53 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
“We played hard with some emotion. It was one of those game that whoever had the ball at the end was going to win it and that’s what happened,” said Rock Hill coach Bob Wilds.
“This was the best we’ve played in a while. Andy Knipp stepped in and did a nice job for us.”
With time running down, Cody Damron converted a 3-point play that got the Hornets within one and Sparks hit a 3-pointer for a 2-point lead. Jeremy Blagg answered with a 3-pointer to give the Redmen a one-point lead.
But then Sparks took a nice pass from Devin Monnier and hit his game-winner.
Rock Hill led 36-30 going into the fourth quarter. Blagg scored 6 points to help the Redmen keep their lead until Sparks’ final shot.
The Redmen led 8-7 after the first quarter before the Hornets rallied to take a 21-18 halftime lead.
Sam Cooke scored 6 points in the third quarter to offset 5 by Damron as Rock Hill rallied to take the lead and set up the exciting finish.
Sparks finished with 17 points including 12 in the fourth quarter as he drained four 3-pointers. Damron had 14 points and 10 rebounds while Monnier also scored 14.
Cooke had 15 points, 14 rebounds and 7 blocked shots to lead Rock Hill (4-7, 0-5).
Will McCollister, Andy Knipp and Blagg got 8 points each and Trey Wilds 7 in a balanced Redmen offense.
Coal Grove 7 14 9 24 = 54
Rock Hill 8 10 18 17 = 53
COAL GROVE (9-3, 2-3): Evan Ferguson 0 1 0-0 3, Wayne Sparks 1 5 0-0 17, Oakie Haynes 1 0 0-1 2, Cody Damron 5 0 4-10 14, Devin Monnier 5 1 1-2 14, Rye Goodwin 1 0 0-1 2, Dion Cunningham 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 14 7 5-14 54. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.
ROCK HILL (4-7, 0-5): Jeremy Blagg 2 1 1-2 8, Will McCollister 3 0 2-2 8, Shane Russell 1 0 2-2 4, Ryan Albright 0 1 0-0 3, Trey Wilds 1 1 2-2 7, Andy Knipp 3 0 2-2 8, Sam Cooke 6 0 3-5 15. Totals: 19-40 12-15 53. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 3-6. Rebounds: 22 (Cooke 14). Assists: 10 (Wilds 4). Turnovers: 11. Steals: 4. Blocked shots: Cooke 7.
Ohio Valley Conference
Boys’ Basketball Standings
OVC All
W L W L
Chesapeake 4 0 7 3
South Point 4 0 8 4
Fairland 2 2 6 5
Coal Grove 2 3 9 4
River Valley 1 3 2 7
Rock Hill 0 5 5 7
Girls’ Basketball Standings
OVC All
W L W L
South Point 5 0 11 1
Chesapeake 5 0 9 3
Fairland 3 3 3 10
Coal Grove 2 4 5 7
River Valley 1 5 6 8
Rock Hill 1 5 1 10