Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — Mark this one as a candidate for an instant classic.

Coal Grove overcame a 7-point deficit in the final 1:30 of regulation to tie the game and the Hornets used the extra time to beat the Rock Hill Redmen 56-46 in overtime Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Rock Hill led 42-35 with 1:30 to play in the fourth quarter when Brandon Adkins got a big put-back, Conor Markins converted a steal into a layup and Alex Bare hit the tying basket with 30 seconds left.

The Hornets had one final chance in regulation but a shot at the buzzer rimmed out.

Bare hit a jumper from the elbow at the 2:58 mark to give Coal Grove a 46-44 lead and they never trailed.

Markins drained a trifecta from the corner to make it 49-44 with 1:45 left in the overtime and a few moments later Bare sank two foul shot for a 51-44 lead with 1:24 on the clock.

Markins was foul and hit two free throws with 1:07 left and it was 53-44. Austin Collins broke the drought for Rock Hill with a basket, but Sean Paulus and Isaiah Gunther each made free throws to seal the win.

Rock Hill took an 11-9 first quarter lead as Joey Stidham scored 6 points. Coal Grove came back to take a 24-20 halftime lead.

The Redmen outscored the Hornets 13-9 in the third quarter to tie the game at 33 and set the stage for the wild finish.

Markins scored 19 points — 8 in the fourth quarter and overtime combined — to lead the Hornets (16-5, 6-4). Bare had 11 points including 9 in the fourth quarter and overtime combined. Paulus added 10 points.

Stidham scored 14 points to lead a balanced offense for Rock Hill (6-15, 1-9).

Evan Morris and Collins scored 9 points each for the Redmen.

Both teams will now play Tuesday in the Division III sectional tournament. Coal grove plays South Point at 6:15 p.m. and Rock Hill faces Portsmouth West at 8 p.m.

Coal Grove 9 15 9 11 12 = 56

Rock Hill 11 9 13 11 2 = 46

COAL GROVE (16-5, 6-4): Alex Bare 3 0 5-8 11, Trevor Barrett 0 0 0-0 0, Sean Paulus 1 2 2-2 10, Isaiah Gunther 1 0 1-2 3, Brandon Adkins 2 1 0-1 7, Conor Markins 2 3 6-8 19, Joe Akers 2 0 1-1 5, Austin “Red” Pleasants 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 11 6 16-24 56. Fouled out: None.

ROCK HILL (6-15, 1-9): Adam Dalton 0 0 0-0 0, Evan Morris 4 0 1-2 9, Joe Stidham 5 1 1-3 14, Austin Collins 2 0 5-6 9, Jacob Falls 2 0 3-6 7, Shane Harper 1 0 0-2 2, Layden Delawder 1 1 0-0 5. Totals: 15 2 10-17 46. Fouled out: Stidham, Falls.