Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — The Coal Grove Hornets had trouble starting and finishing.

The Hornets managed just 16 points total in the first and fourth quarter as they lost a 57-56 heartbreaker to the Russell Red Devils Saturday in the Dr. Paulus Heart of Champions Classic.

Coal Grove (4-3) was led by D.J. Miller with a game-high 19 points. Conor Markins scored 12 points and Brandon Adkins had 10 points.

Ethan Raby scored 17 points to lead Russell (4-8). Ramsey Mullins added 10 points.

The game started slow with Russell going ahead 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Each team scored 17 points in the second quarter and it was 24-23 at the half.

Markins had 5 points while Sean Paulus and Adkins had 4 points each. Markins and Paulus each hit a 3-pointer.

Raby and Silas Cox each made a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter for Russell.

Coal Grove appeared to be taking control of the game in the third quarter. Miller caught first with 17 points including four 3-point goals and the Hornets took a 47-39 lead.

But Tanner Miller scored all 7 of his points in the fourth quarter and Raby had 5 more points as Russell outscored Coal Grove 18-9 in the fourth quarter to rally for the win.

Russell 7 17 15 18 = 57

Coal Grove 6 17 24 9 = 56

RUSSELL (4-8): Heath Hensley 0 0 1-2 1, Silas Cox 1 2 0-0 8, Pavin Downs 1 0 0-0 2, Blake Campbell 1 0 0-0 2, Zach Tackett 1 0 2-4 4, Ethan Raby 1 5 0-0 17, Tanner Miller 2 1 0-0 7, Ramsey Mullins 5 0 0-1 10, Cody Bennett 3 0 0-2 6. Totals: 15 8 3-8 57. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (4-3): Travis Carey 0 0 0-0 0, Jonathan Joseph 0 0 0-1 0, Sean Paulus 2 1 1-2 7, Isaiah Gunther 0 0 0-0 0, Brandon Adkins 5 0 0-1 10, D.J. Miller 2 4 3-6 19, Joe Akers 3 0 0-0 6, Conor Markins 2 2 2-2 12, Austen Pleasants 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 14 7 7-14 56. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.