Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — What a start to the weekend.

The Raceland Rams held on to edge the Coal Grove Hornets 44-43 on Friday during the opening day of the Dr. Paulus Heart of Champions Classic.

Coal Grove took a 14-13 lead after the first quarter, but Raceland came back to outscore the Hornets 16-7 and take a 29-21 halftime lead.

Coal Grove (1-5) rallied in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 34-31.

Isaiah Gunther hit a shot from the wing to get the Hornets to within 32-29 and Brandon Adkins reverse layup cut the spread to 32-31.

The Rams (6-3) then scored to take the 3-point lead.

In the fourth quarter, Travis Carey hit a triple, Adkins had a basket and Sean Paulus had a clutch putback to give the Hornets a 38-37 lead with six minutes left.

Carey put back his own missed shot to give Coal Grove its biggest lead of the game at 40-37 midway through the quarter.

Connor Messer then tipped in a basket to help the Rams regain the lead for good at 42-40 with 1:30 to play.

Adkins hit a big 3-pointer to get the Hornets within 44-43 with eight seconds remaining.

The Rams turned the ball over with four seconds to go but the Hornets were unable to hit a last-second shot that bounced twice and fell off the rim.

The Classic concluded on Saturday.

Raceland 13 16 5 10 = 44

Coal Grove 14 7 10 12 = 43

RACELAND (6-3): Connor Messer 5 0 00 10, Rodney Vance 4 0 1-3 9, Noah Braden 0 0 0-0 0, Carson Christian 1 0 0-0 2, Nathaniel Davidson 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Blair 1 0 0-0 2, Trey Mills 0 0 0-0 0, Tyler Morris 4 1 1-2 12, Nicky Valencourt 4 0 1-2 9. Totals: 20-36 3-8 44. 3-point goals: 1-6. Rebounds: 24 (Messer 8). Team/deadball rebounds: 5. Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (1-5): Travis Carey 5 0 1-3 11, Jonathon Joseph 1 1 2-2 5, Sean Paulus 3 0 0-0 6, Isaiah Gunther 1 0 0-0 2, Brandon Adkins 7 0 1-2 15, Joe Akers 2 0 0-0 4, Austen Pleasants 0 0 0-2 0. Totals: 19-45 2-5 43. 3-point goals: 3-11. Rebounds: 23 (Carey 8). Team/deadball rebounds: 4. Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: Carey.