Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — The Coal Grove Lady Hornets got excited by getting “board.”

The Coal Grove Lady Hornets used some strong rebounding and the scoring of Jacy Jones in the fourth quarter to edge the Chesapeake Lady Panthers 41-39 Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We did a good job on the boards and that gave us a lot of second looks in the first half. We’re not used to that,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Rick Roach.

“We knew it was going to be close and we wanted to win, especially after they beat us at our place on a last-second shot.”

Jones scored 15 points and grabbed 6 rebounds to lead the Lady Hornets (14-8, 6-4). Katey Erwin had 6 rebounds despite a bruised hand and Morgan Sites had 8 points and 6 rebounds. Darrien Hankins also scored 8 points and pulled down 7 rebounds.

“They applied a lot of pressure to Adkins just like everyone else. Jones is slowly realizing that she needs to handle more of the pressure when Adkins is getting a lot of attention,” said Roach.

Jordan Porter had 11 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Lady Panthers (11-10, 3-6).

Jackie Nelson had 9 points and 5 steals, Anna Mayo grabbed 7 rebounds and Sydnee Hall had 4 steals.

“Coal Grove played exceptional defense and so did we,” said Lady Panthers’ coach Chris Ball. “We couldn’t find any rhythm on offense, but give Coal Grove credit for some of that.”

Porter scored 6 points in the first quarter to offset 4 by Sites as Chesapeake took a 12-8 lead.

Sites had 4 points in the second quarter to match Chesapeake’s output as the Lady Hornets grabbed an 18-16 halftime lead.

Hankins was 4 of 4 from the line in the third quarter and Coal Grove led 30-27. Nelson scored 7 points for the Lady Panthers.

Jones took charge in the fourth quarter as she drained a pair of 3-pointers and made two foul shots for 8 points in the quarter. The Lady Panthers converted just 3 of 10 free throws in the quarter.

“It was the same story for us that it has been all year. We can’t make our free throws and it has hurt us all season,” said Ball.

“We’ve lost a lot of close games because of missed opportunities and our inability to make free throws.”

Coal Grove played without Taylor Fleming who was sick.

Chesapeake hosts Fairland on Saturday and plays at 5 p.m. Monday against Wellston in the Div. III sectional tournament at Jackson.

Coal Grove plays Lucasville Valley at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Div. III sectional tournament at Jackson. Tickets may be purchased at the high school for $5. The school receives only a percentage of the pre-sale.

Coal Grove 8 10 12 11 = 41

Chesapeake 12 4 11 12 = 39

COAL GROVE (14-8, 6-4): Jacy Jones 2 3 2-4 15, Katey Erwin 2 0 0-0 4, Leslie Mulkey 0 0 0-0 0, Ashley Adkins 3 0 0-0 6, Morgan Sites 2 1 1-2 8, Darrien Hankins 1 0 6-8 8. Totals: 10 4 9-14 41. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: Sites.

CHESAPEAKE (11-10, 3-6): Kelsey Curry 1 1 0-0 3, Atiya Spaulding 0 0 0-2 0, Kaylee Curry 0 0 2-2 2, Jackie Nelson 2 1 2-4 9, Anna Mayo 3 0 0-0 6, Sydnee Hall 2 0 0-1 4, Saundra White 1 0 0-0 2, Jordan Porte 3 0 5-8 11. Totals: 12 2 9-17 39. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Hall.