By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

SOUTH POINT — The South Point Pointers must have tuned into Kenny Chesney’s song, “I’ve been living in fast forward.”

After a slow-paced first quarter, the Pointers exploded in the second quarter and went on to beat the Coal Grove Hornets 70-30 Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

South Point led 14-8 at the end of the first quarter, then outscored the Hornets 27-12 in the second quarter to build a 41-20 halftime lead.

“We had to speed them up. They like to control the tempo and play deliberate on offense,” said Pointers’ coach Chris Barnes. “And we shot the ball pretty well and that got us going.”

Brandon Barnes scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half as the Pointers built their lead.

Blake Barnes had seven points in the third quarter and the defense held Coal Grove scoreless as the lead grew to 54-20.

Blake Barnes finished with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Kyle Winkler had a solid all-around game with 12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

Tevin Mitchell scored 11 points including three 3-pointers and Mike Leighty grabbed eight rebounds for the Pointers (4-5, 2-2).

Coal Grove (2-9, 0-3) was led by Devin Monnier with 11 points.

South Point 14 27 13 16 = 70

Coal Grove 8 12 0 10 = 30

SOUTH POINT (4-5, 2-2): Tevin Mitchell 1 3 0-0 11, Austin Jeffreys 2 0 0-0 4, Campbell 1 0 0-3 2, Austin Majher 0 0 0-0 0, Blake Barnes 4 1 3-3 14, Kyle Winkler 5 0 2-2 12, Josh Payne 1 0 1-2 3, Brandon Barnes 3 4 0-0 18, Mike Leighty 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 20 8 6-10 70. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (2-9, 0-3): Boo Woods 0 0 0-1 0, Rye Goodwin 1 0 0-0 2, Jacob Pauley 1 1 0-2 5, Devin Monnier 4 1 0-0 11, Bryan Jenkins 1 0 0-0 2, Colton Bryant 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Barker 2 1 0-0 7, Conor Markins 0 1 0-0 3, Brandon Doyle 0 0 0-0 0, T.J. Barrett 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Blair 0 0 0-0 0, Mason Nance 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 4 0-3 30. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.