Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Things went from bad to worse. And then it all exploded.

The Coal Grove Lady Hornets trailed by two at the half and then scored just two points in the third quarter.

But they came to life in the fourth quarter and rallied to beat the South Point Lady Pointers 43-39 on Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference opener.

Kaylee Beal — Coal Grove’s lone senior — sparked her teammates and the comeback as Coal Grove won its second game in as many attempts.

“We got a little lazy in the third quarter and we didn’t get the looks that we wanted,” said Coal Grove coach Rick Roach.

“(Destiny) Dolen played excellent on both ends. (Kasey) Murphy rebounded well and we got good bench minutes from Amaya Waulk, Bailey McKnight and Mattie Malone that allowed the starters the breather they needed to finish the game strong.”

Beals had 13 points and Emily Compliment 11 to pace the Lady Hornets (2-0, 1-0).

Madison Kearns scored 13 points and Haley Rawlins 12 for the Lady Pointers )0-1, 0-1).

The Lady Pointers were up 13-12 at the end of the first quarter as Rawlins, Kearns and Brooklyn Badgett all hit 3-pointers. Murphy had all 6 of her points for Coal Grove.

Rawlins scored 7 more points in the second quarter and South Point led 25-23 at the half. Compliment had 5 points in the quarter.

South Point outscored Coal Grove 7-2 in the third quarter and it was 32-25, but in the fourth quarter Beals scored 7 points including a 3-pointer and the Lady Hornets connected on 5-of-6 at the foul line as they outscored South Point 18-7 for the comeback win.

Coal Grove was 15-of-49 from the field and 12-of-21 from the foul line. South Point made 14-of-57 shots and converted 5-of-8 at the line.

On Monday, Coal Grove visits Portsmouth and South Point hosts Chesapeake.

South Point 13 12 7 7 = 39

Coal Grove 12 11 2 18 = 43

SOUTH POINT (0-1, 0-1): Haley Rawlins 1 2 4-4 12, Brooklyn Badgett 1 1 0-0 5, Leah Lawson 2 0 0-0 2, Madison Kearns 2 3 0-0 13, Olivia Abner 0 0 0-0 0, Adara Deeds 2 0 0-0 4, Kate Mundy 1 0 0-0 2, Ashley Perkey 0 0 1-4 1, Abby Hannah 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 8 6 5-8 39. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Abner.

COAL GROVE (2-0, 1-0): Bailey McKnight 0 0 0-0 0, Kaylee Beals 4 1 2-2 13, Emily Compliment 3 0 5-8 11, Mattie Malone 0 0 1-2 1, Kasey Murphy 2 2-3 6, Destiny Dolen 3 0 2- 8, Lauren Crum 2 0 0-0 4, Amaya Waulk 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 1 12-21 43. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.