Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The South Point Pointers would rather skip halftime and just drink their Pepsi after the game.

The Pointers keep playing well in the first half, then struggle after halftime. It happened again Thursday as the Wayne Pioneers rallied for a 62-55 win in the Huntington Invitational.

“We can’t put a whole game together,” said Pointers’ coach Travis Wise.

“We had five turnovers in the first half and 12 in the second half. That was the difference. We let them hang around and then they hit some shots.”

Ryan Gibson scored 17 points and Brady Rickard had 16 points — 14 in the first half — to lead the Pointers (2-13).

Grant Ferguson had a game-high 21 points to lead Wayne (6-9). Colby Wickline and Mason Hodge got 14 points each.

Rickard had 6 points in the first quarter as South Point took a 19-11 lead. He got 6 more in the second quarter but Wickline hit three 3-pointers and Cameron Wallace also had a trey and the Pointers’ lead was 35-29 at the half.

The Pointers managed just 7 points in the third quarter as Wayne rallied to tie the game at 42.

Gibson scored 9 points in the fourth quarter but Hodge made two triples and Wayne outscored the Pointers 20-13.

South Point visits Fairland on Tuesday.

Wayne 11 18 13 20 = 62

South Point 19 16 7 13 = 55

WAYNE (6-9): Colby Wickline 1 3 3-4 14, Cameron Wallace 0 1 0-0 3, Seth Napier 0 0 4-6 4, Grant Ferguson 6 2 3-7 21, Tucker Watts 2 0 2-2 6, Mason Hodge 3 2 2-3 14. Totals: 12 8 14-22 62. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (2-13): Brady Rickard 8 0 0-4 16, Stephen Wagoner 1 1 4-4 9, Alex Whitt 0 0 0-0 0, Ryan Gibson 5 1 4-6 17, Elijah Adams 1 0 6-9 8, Cody Runyon 1 1 0-0 5. Totals: 19-43 14-23 55. 3-point goals: 3. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.