Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — The Coal Grove Lady Hornets needed someone to step up, and they did.

With a strong team effort, the Lady Hornets beat the Chesapeake Lady Panthers 55-51 on Monday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We knew they were going to box-and-one Compliment, so I told the other girls they needed to step up and play how they were capable of playing and they did,” said Coal Grove coach Rick Roach.

“We have made progression all season long and the girls are listening well. Crum, Beals and Dolen all scored in double figures. Dolen is a great defender and makes it difficult for teams to get their offense running.”

Kaylee Beals scored 15 points, Lauren Crum had 12 points and Destiny Dolen got 11 more to lead the Lady Hornets (7-10, 4-9).

Kaylee Curry scored 19 points and Kelsey Huff had a career-high 15 points to lead the Lady Panthers (13-6, 7-5).

“Chesapeake came out flat and we were able to capitalize with some easy run outs in the first quarter,” said Roach.

“Give (coach Chris) Ball credit. His girls came out and started banging us around and out-rebounding us. (Kasey) Murphy got in foul trouble for us and (Amaya) Waulk came in and showed great toughness. (Bailey) McKnight was able to come in and provide an extra ball-handler.”

Coal Grove took control early as Crum scored six points and Beals five to lead 18-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Curry’s 3-pointer were the only points for Chesapeake.

The Lady Hornets were 6-of-10 from the foul line with Beals and Dolen scoring five points each and it was 34-18 at the half.

Dominique Murphy scored five points and Natalee Hall four to keep the Lady Panthers close.

Coal Grove managed just five points in the third quarter and Chesapeake took advantage by scoring 18 points to trail 39-36. Huff hit a pair of 3-pointers and Curry scored six points to fuel the comeback.

Huff hit two more triples in the fourth quarter and Curry scored eight points, but the Lady Hornets were 7-of-10 from the line to secure the win.

Murphy, Dolen and Waulk scored four points each in the quarter.

 

Coal Grove visits Lincoln County, W.Va., on Wednesday and Ironton on Thursday. Chesapeake hosts Fairland on Thursday.

Chesapeake 3 15 18 15 = 51

Coal Grove 18 16 5 16 = 55

CHESAPEAKE (13-6, 7-5): Dominique Murphy 2 0 2-5 6, Bailey Mills 0 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Huff 0 5 0-0 15, Kaylee Curry 8 1 0-3 19, Jozy Jones 0 0 2-4 2, Natalee Hall 3 0 0-0 6, Brooke Webb 1 0 1-2 3, Haley Stapleton 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-78 5-14 51. 3-point goals: 6. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (7-10, 4-9): Kaylee Beals 3 2 3-4 15, Emily Compliment 1 0 2-3 4, Kasey Murphy 3 0 3-4 9, Destiny Dolen 4 0 3-4 11, Lauren Crum 5 0 2-3 12, Amaya Waulk 1 0 2-3 4, Bailey McKnight 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-50 15-21 55. 3-point goals: 2. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.