By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

COAL GROVE — Give the South Point Lady Pointers an inch, and they’ll take a win.

In a pivotal Ohio Valley Conference game, the South Point Lady Pointers overcame foul trouble and rallied past the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 59-52 on Thursday.

“We knew Coal Grove was more athletic this year,” said Lady Pointers’ coach Dave Adams.

“We got in some foul trouble early, but we hung in there and stayed close and gave ourselves a chance. All the girls stepped up and played well.”

South Point (7-3, 3-0) had three players in double figures as Erin Dillow scored 16, Allison Mitchell 14 and Aundrea Bradburn 11.

Coal Grove 7-2, 2-1) was led by Ashley Adkins with 17 points. Darrien Hankins had 12 points and Jacy Jones 10.

Coal Grove coach Rick Roach said his team failed to take advantage of the Lady Pointers’ foul trouble.

“We knew coming in that South Point is a very aggressive team so we had an opportunity to get their starters in foul trouble and we did that,” said Roach.

“However, when their starters were out we didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. (South Point’s) bench did a good job coming in and scoring points.”

The game was tied 13-13 at the end of the first quarter. Breanna Bentley had 4 points and Jones hit a 3-pointer for the Lady Hornets while Mitchell and Brett Justice combined for 10 points.

“Bentley is a freshman and she came in and gave us quality minutes for a sick Jones,” said Roach. “We got in a big hole in the third quarter, but we did a good job battling and giving ourselves a chance to be in it at the end of the game.”

Jones and Amanda Collins hit 3-pointers to offset treys by Abby Winkler and Dillow for South Point as Coal Grove took a 26-25 halftime lead.

But South Point had a strong third quarter and outscored Coal Grove 18-6 to take a 43-32 lead.

Bradburn drained a pair of triples and scored 8 points to trigger the scoring surge.

“We changed our offense and they had to change their defense,” said Adams.

Adkins scored 10 points in the fourth quarter as Coal Grove mounted a comeback, but South Point held onto the lead by converting 9 of 16 free throws with Dillow going 4-6 while Bradburn and Eryn Khounlavong made two each.

Dillow scored 9 points in the quarter to pick up the scoring slack as Mitchell fouled out.

“Dillow hit some big shots for us,” said Adams.

On Monday, Coal Grove goes to Fairland while South Point travels to River Valley.

South Point 13 12 18 16 = 59

Coal Grove 13 13 6 20 = 52

SOUTH POINT (7-3, 3-0): Abby Winkler 0 1 1-4 4, Allison Mitchell 7 0 0-0 14, Erin Dillow 3 2 4-6 16, Eryn Khounlavong 0 0 2-4 2, Brianna Whaley 1 0 0-0 2, Brett Justice 3 0 0-0 6, Lakin Adams 2 0 0-0 4, Aundrea Bradburn 1 2 3-4 11. Totals: 17 5 10-18 59. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Mitchell, Justice.

COAL GROVE (7-2, 2-1): Jacy Jones 2 2 0-0 10, Deanna Bentley 2 0 3-6 7, Katey Erwin 1 0 1-6 3, Leah Crum 0 0 0-0 0, Ashley Adkins 4 0 9-12 17, Cheyenne Bellomy 0 0 0-0 0, Amanda Collins 0 1 0-0 3, Morgan Sites 0 0 0-0 0, Darrien Hankins 2 0 8-12 12. Totals: 11 3 21-36 52. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Collins.