Jim Walker

Jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

JACKSON — Everybody deserves a second chance, but this was getting ridiculous.

Oak Hill dominated the offensive boards as the Oaks squeezed out a 49-43 win over the South Point Pointers Saturday in the Division III sectional tournament title game.

Oak Hill pulled down 18 offensive rebounds to a mere four by South Point and used their second and third chances to make key baskets.

Overall, the Oaks out-rebounded the Pointers 33-25.

“Offensive rebounding was the key to the game. They killed us on the offensive boards,” said Pointers’ coach Chris Barnes.

“I loved our defensive and I loved our effort, but there’s no cure when you can’t keep them off the offensive glass.”

The game featured three ties and six lead changes. South Point’s biggest lead was five points and Oak Hill’s largest margin was eight.

Brandon Barnes had 18 points and six rebounds to lead the Pointers, Payne Meadows scored 17 points and John Johnson scored the other eight.

Luke Hammond and Garrin Stiltner scored 13 points each, Drew Haislop had 12 points and Kyle Love grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Oaks (19-4).

Oak Hill led most of the first quarter until Meadows made back-to-back layups to put the Pointers up 12-10.

South Point (10-14) shot well in the second quarter but was guilty of six turnovers. The Pointers were 5-of-8 from the field and made both of their free throw attempts.

A 3-pointer by Barnes extended the lead to 15-10 at the 7:11 mark of the second quarter, but a 3-pointer by Stiltner tied the game at 17.

An 18-footer by Meadows had the Pointers up 21-20 with 4:09 left in the half, but the Oaks got layups by Hammond and Ryan Gaines to lead 32-26 at the half.

Barnes made two free throws and a short runner in the lane to begin the second half and it was 32-30.

A 17-footer by Meadows got the Pointers within 35-33 at the end of the quarter.

Oak Hill missed its first nine shots of the quarter and made only one of its 14 attempts.

A trifecta by Barnes and two free throws by Meadows with 3:55 left gave the Pointers their final lead at 38-37.

But Oak Hill went on a 9-0 run to lead 46-38 with 38 seconds to play.

“The last two minutes we took a couple of bad shots. I think we felt rushed and needed to do something in a hurry. If we make one 3-pointer there, it’s a whole different game at the end,” said coach Barnes.

Oak Hill plays Meigs in the district tournament at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday at Ohio University.

South Point 12 14 7 10 = 43

Oak Hill 10 22 4 14 = 49

SOUTH POINT (10-14): John Johnson 0 2 2-2 8, Austin Majher 0 0 0-0 0, Payne Meadows 5 1 4-4 17, Brandon Barnes 3 3 3-4 18, Brandon Boggs 0 0 0-0 0, Phil Kratzenberg 0 0 0-0 0, Kurt Adams 0 0 0-0 0, Mason White 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-32 9-10 43. 3-point goals: 6-13. Rebounds: 4 offense, 21 defense = 25 (Barnes 6, Majher 4, Johnson 4, White 4). Team rebounds: 2. Assists: 2. Steals: 5 (Meadows 3, Johnson 2). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: White (4th 0:24).

OAK HILL (19-4): Ryan Gaines 1 0 0-0 2, Garrin Stiltner 3 1 4-6 13, Drew Haislop 4 0 4-5 12, Kyle Love 2 0 1-2 5, Luke Hammond 6 0 1-4 13, Nathan Kidd 0 0 4-4 4. Totals: 17-51 14-21 49. 3-point goals: 1-10. Rebounds: 18 offense, 15 defense = 33 (Love 10, Hammond 8). Assists: 4 (Haislop 2). Steals: 8 (Stltner 4, Love 2). Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.