SOUTH POINT — It took most of the first half, but Zane Trace was able to beat a path to the basket.

The Pioneers used a strong second half to pull away from the South Point Pointers 73-43 Tuesday.

South Point led for most of the first half only to see Zane Trace go up 35-28 at the half.

“We played extremely well in the first half, but we just wore out in the second half,” said Pointers’ coach Chris Barnes.

“But Zane Trace was the difference in the game. We gave it a good effort, but they just wore us out. They’re an extremely good basketball team. They have the potential to be the next Piketon. Teams better be ready for them in the tournament.”

Blake Barnes scored 18 points to lead the Pointers (10-5). Ethan Prater added 11 points.

Zane Trace (12-4) was led by Kirk Maxwell with 22 points. Drew Davis came off the bench to score 18 points and Gabe Haynes had 15.

Barnes scored 13 in the first half to keep the Pointers ahead before Zane Trace used a scoring burst at the end of the second quarter to take a 35-28 lead at the half.

“We played extremely well the first half,” said coach Barnes.

But the Pointers were outscored 20-5 in the third quarter and fell behind 55-33.

Zane Trace was 26-of-32 from the foul line including 14-of-17 in the fourth quarter. South Point was just 11-of-20 from the line for the game.

The Pointers will regroup and prepare for Friday’s game at Chesapeake that will be a showdown for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Zane Trace 13 22 20 18 = 73

South Point 14 14 5 10 = 43

ZANE TRACE (12-4): Dallas Cochenour 1 0 1-4 3, Gabe Haynes 4 1 4-4 15, Rick Chamberlin 1 0 3-4 5, Joel Tripp 3 0 0-0 6, Kirk Maxwell 5 1 9-10 22, Drew Davis 1 3 7-8 18, Mike Moore 1 0 0-0 2, Derek Cochenour 1 0 0-0 2, Colton Whitehouse 0 0 0-0 0, Brandon Swepston 0 0 0-0 0. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (10-5): Tevin Mitchell 0 0 0-0 0, Matt Button 1 0 0-0 2, Blake Barnes 3 2 6-10 18, Kyle Winkler 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan Bruton 0 0 0-0 0, Josh Powers 0 0 0-0 0, Chris Christian 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan Prater 3 0 5-10 11, Cody Taylor 4 0 0-0 8, Greg Taylor 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 13 2 11-20 43. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Prater.