Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

JACKSON — A couple of clutch shots is all that there was to decide the outcome.

In a tightly contested game, the Wellston Golden Rockets used some key shots late to edge the Coal Grove Hornets 52-44 on Monday in the Division III sectional tournament.

Wellston’s lead tinkered between two to five points throughout the fourth quarter. The Hornets trailed 47-44 when Braydon Womeldorf hit a 3-pointer out of the left corner with 50 seconds left for a 50-44 lead.

After the Hornets failed to answer they were forced to foul and Ryan Hawk hit two foul shots with 19 seconds left to set the final score. It was also the Rockets’ largest lead of the game.

Cole Gannon scored 11 points including three 3-pointers to lead the Hornets. Daniel Rutherford and Sam Angelo added seven points each.

Womeldorf had 18 points to lead four Wellston players in double figures. Caleb Stanley and Chazz Davis had 11 each and Hawk added 10.

The Hornets were 18-of-45 from the field for 40 percent. Wellston was 20-of-44 for 45 percent.

Coal Grove took a 13-11 first quarter lead as Gannon scored five points.

Each team scored nine points in the second quarter and the Hornets led 22-20 at the half.

Womeldorf hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored seven points while Davis had six points and Wellston rallied to take a 37-34 lead at the end of the third quarter. Five different Hornets scored in the quarter with Angelo getting four points.

Neither team led by more than four points throughout the first three quarters.

With the win, Wellston (12-9) will now play second-seeded Chesapeake at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the sectional finals.

Coal Grove is now 6-16 and was scheduled to play at East Carter, Ky., on Tuesday.

Coal Grove 13 9 12 10 = 44

Wellston 11 9 17 15 = 52

COAL GROVE (6-15): Cole Gannon 1 3 0-0 11, Aaron Music 2 0 2-3 6, Daniel Rutherford 2 0 1-2 5, Chase McKnight 2 0 1-2 5, Jeb Jones 2 0 0-0 4, Dylan Malone 0 0 0-0 0, Mark Sites 0 0 0-0 0, Dalton Miller 2 0 0-0 4, Jaylen McKenzie 0 0 0-0 0, Sam Angelo 3 0 1-1 7. Totals: 18-45 5-8 44. 3-point goals: 3-11. Rebounds: 19 (Angelo 5, Jones 5). Steals: 12. Turnovers: 21. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

WELLSTON (11-9): Braydon Womeldorf 3 4 0-3 18, Ryan Hawk 4 0 2-2 10, Chazz Davis 4 0 3-5 11, Daivon Newell 0 0 0-1 0, Caleb Stanley 4 0 3-4 11, Caden Ervin 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 20-44 8-15 52. 3-point goals: 4-15. Rebounds: 32 (Stanley 8, Davis 7). Steals: 9. Turnovers: 21. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.