Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — It was the shot heard ‘round the gym.

Tanner Hall hit a shot at the buzzer to give the South Point Pointers a stunning 48-46 upset win over the Portsmouth Trojans on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Hall stole the ball near mid-court and drove for the game-winning layup just before the buzzer.

“Hall made a real heads-up play. That was a big play coming from our center,” said Pointers’ coach Travis Wise.

“Tayshaun Fox made some clutch free throws. He’s just a freshman but he made four big free throws down the stretch. If he doesn’t make those, we’re not in the game.”

Hall finished with 11 points and 8 rebounds for the Pointers (2-3, 2-1). Stephen Wagoner also had 11 points while Jared Whitt added 9 points and Elijah Adams dished out 8 assists.

South Point (2-3, 2-1) had just eight turnovers.

Kendall Reynolds scored a game-high 19 points for Portsmouth (2-2, 2-1). Ky’re Allison had 13 points — all in the second half.

Ethan Leonard, D.J. Eley, Reese Johnson and Reynolds all hit 3-pointers in the first quarter as Portsmouth took a 14-10 lead.

But the Pointers outscored the Trojans 8-4 in the second quarter and it was 18-18 at the half.

Portsmouth went on a 6-0 run to begin the second half before the Pointers regrouped and took a 31-30 lead.

“We stayed with our game plan and we were able to execute it,” said Wise.

“They came out and hit a bunch of 3s to start the game, and we came back and tied at the half. They took a six-point to start the second half but we never lost our composure. When we led after three quarters we began to believe we could win.”

Hall scored 7 points in the fourth quarter and Fox made his clutch foul shots setting up Hall’s winning play.

Portsmouth 14 4 12 16 = 46

South Point 10 8 13 17 = 48

PORTSMOUTH (2-2, 1-1): Ethan Leonard 1 1 0-0 5, Ky’re Allison 5 0 3-4 13, D.J. Eley 0 1 0-0 3, Kendall Reynolds 3 2 7-8 19, Reese Johnson 0 2 0-0 6, Jordan Lucas 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 6 10-16 46. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (2-3, 2-1): Chris Woodard 2 0 0-0 4, Stephen Wagoner 5 0 1-2 11, Tanner Hall 5 0 1-3 11, Tayshaun Fox 1 0 5-6 7, Jared Whitt 4 0 1-2 9, Elijah Adams 2 0 0-0 4, Cody Runyon 1 0-0 0-1 2. Totals: 20-47 8-13 48. 3-point goals: 0-17. Rebounds: 19 (Hall 8). Assists: 16 (Adams 8). Turnovers: 8. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.