Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — A little extra work never hurt anyone. In fact, it was exactly what the Coal Grove Hornets needed.

The Hornets went to overtime to beat the East Carter Raiders 64-60 Saturday in a thriller.

In overtime, D.J. Miller had a steal and Brandon Adkins scored at the 3:20 mark as Coal Grove went up 56-54.

Conor Markins was fouled and hit both free throws to put the lead at 58-54. A free throw by Joe Akers and a putback by Adkins opened up a 61-56 lead. Markins also made a foul shot and it was 62-56 with 53 seconds left.

Baskets by Cole Brammer and Bradley Marsh got the Raider within 62-60 with 15 seconds left. The Hornets missed a pair of free throws, but Markins got the rebound after the second miss and scored with 10 seconds to go and it was 64-60.

In overtime, the Hornets were 6-of-13 from the foul line with Markins made 5-of-6.

Adkins scored 20 points to lead four Hornets in double figures. Miller scored 14, Markins 13 and Akers 11.

Connor Green scored 14 points to pace East Carter (1-4).

Coal Grove (3-1) took an 11-9 lead at the end of the first quarter on a layup by Adkins off a pass from Markins.

East Carter took a 22-18 left with 2:57 left in the half. Markins sank three foul shots to get the Hornets within 22-21, but a 3-pointer by Greene gave the Raiders a 26-22 halftime lead.

The Raiders were up 39-33 at the end of the third quarter, but the Hornets rallied to tie the game at 41 on a basket by Akers, then took a 44-43 lead at the 4:50 mark on a clutch 3-pointer by Sean Paulus, and again regained the lead at 50-48 lead on a trifecta by Markins with 2:20 left in regulation.

Greene hit a trey to tie the game, but Miller put Coal Grove up 54-52. The Raiders then scored with 15 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

East Carter 11 15 13 15 6 = 60

Coal Grove 9 13 11 21 10 = 64

EAST CARTER (1-4): Qua Davis 2 0 0-0 4, Cole Brammer 3 0 2-2 8, Seth Marsh 1 0 0-0 2, Bradley Marsh 3 2 1-1 13, Wyatt Tackett 0 0 0-0 0, Donald Damron 2 1 1-2 8, Connor Greene 2 2 4-4 14, Evan Brooks 0 0 0-0 0, Cameron Sparks 3 1 2-4 11. Totals: 16 6 10-13 60. Fouls: 30. Fouled out: Greene, Sparks.

COAL GROVE (3-1): Isaac Fields 0 0 0-0 0, Jonathan Joseph 0 0 0-0 0, Sean Paulus 0 1 2-4 5, Isaiah Gunther 0 0 0-0 0, Brandon Adkins 6 0 8-14 20, D.J. Miller 4 2 0-3 14, Joe Akers 4 0 3-5 11, Conor Markins 1 1 8-12 13, Austen Pleasants 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 15 4 22-38 64. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Paulus.