Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — The spotlight was on the Coal Grove seniors, and the Lady Hornets shined.

Led by their six seniors, the Lady Hornets beat the Rose Hill Christian Lady Royals 60-45 on Thursday.

Jacy Jones had 18 points, Summer Willis scored 17, Leah Crum hit five 3-pointers for 15 points, Sydney Conley got some key points, and Leslie Mulkey and Maddy McKenzie provided tough defense and rebounding as Coal Grove finished 10-12.

Jones also had 11 rebounds and eight assists and Willis also had a double-double with 11 rebounds.

“The seniors did all the scoring and we shot well form 3-point land,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Rick Roach.

“We boxed out and rebounded well the entire game. The 17 assists made the difference. We moved the ball and took the shots we wanted to take.”

Jones had 5 points including a trey and Willis scored 4 more as Coal Grove took a 14-13 first quarter lead. Steele had 8 points for the Lady Royals.

The Lady Hornets created some breathing room in the second quarter by outscoring Rose Hill 21-11 to take a 35-24 halftime lead.

Crum hit a pair of 3-pointers and Jones and Conley added one each in the quarter.

Willis scored 6 points and Jones 5 more and the Lady Hornets led 49-39 after three quarters. Brammer had 6 points in the quarter for Rose Hill.

“Rose Hill did a good job of making their open shots,” said Roach. “But Mulkey did a great job defensively and McKenzie came in and gave us good minutes off the bench.”

Coal Grove’s defense took over in the fourth quarter by holding Rose Hill to just 6 points.

Crum drained two more triples and Jones was 3-of-4 from the line to cement the outcome.

Coal Grove will face South Point at 8 p.m. on Wednesday in the Div. III sectional tournament at Rock Hill.

Rose Hill 13 11 15 6 = 45

Coal Grove 14 21 14 11 = 60

ROSE HILL CHRISTIAN (8-18): Paige Brammer 5 0 0-0 10, Madison Crum 3 0 0-1 6, Kendra Steele 5 0 4-714, Emma Fulton 1 2 1-2 9, Sarah Sizemore 1 1 0-2 5, Natalie Fyfe 0 0 0-0 0, Makenlee Sparks 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 15 3 6-14 45. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (10-12): Jacy Jones 3 2 6-7 18, Sydney Conley 1 2 0-2 8, Leah Crum 0 5 0-0 15, Leslie Mulkey 1 0 0-1 2, Summer Willis 8 0 1-3 17, Kaylee Beals 0 0 0-2 0 Lauren Meyer 0 0 0-0 0, Maddy McKenzie 0 0 0-0 0, Khylee Keaton 0 0 0-0 0, Emily Bryant 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 9 7-15 60. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Mulkey.