Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

JACKSON — It was 3s and frees that got Wheelersburg going.

The Wheelersburg Pirates used 3-pointers and free throws to get the lead as they went on to beat the Rock Hill Redmen 63-36 on Wednesday in the Division III sectional tournament.

Wheelersburg made all four of its 3-points in the first half and also went 9-of-13 at the foul line to build a 17-point halftime lead.

The Pirates (15-6) had three players in double figures. Kyle Davis scored 16, Kaden Coleman 13 and Tanner Holden had 12 points, 11 rebounds and five steals.

Mason Darby provided most of Rock Hill’s offense as he scored a game-high 24 points. He also had six rebounds.

Darby scored 10 points in the first quarter including a foul shot with 1:59 on the clock as the Redmen trailed just 16-10.

The Pirates scored five straight points before Nathan Turvey hit a 3-pointer before the end of the quarter to get the Redmen within 21-13.

Davis and Darby exchanged baskets to start the second quarter and then Wheelersburg went on a 8-2 run — half of the points came at the foul line — and it was 29-15.

The Pirates outscored the Redmen 8-7 the rest of the quarter to lead 37-20 at the half.

A layup by Tanner Bivens and a 3-point play by Davis opened up a 42-20 lead to begin the second half.

Darby scored six points in the quarter but the Redmen fell behind 56-30 at the end of the stanza.

Wheelersburg will now play Ironton at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Rock Hill 13 7 10 6 = 36

Wheelersburg 21 16 19 7 = 63

ROCK HILL (0-23): Alex Nance 0 0 0-0 0, Nathan Turvey 0 1 0-0 3, Brady Knipp 0 0 0-0 0, Mason Darby 11 0 2-7 24, Cameron Barnette 1 0 0-0 2, Jacob Blagg 0 0 0-0 0, Logan Reed 1 0 0-0 2, Isaac Floyd 0 0 0-0 0, Jaret Bacorn 1 0 3-4 5, Kadin France 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-37 5-11 36. 3-point goals: 1-4. Rebounds: 8-O, 20-D = 28 (Darby 6, Barnette 5, Bacorn 4). Team rebounds: 5. Assists: 3. Steals: 2. Turnovers: 16. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Knipp (4th 7:04).

WHEELERSBURG (15-6): Tanner Holden 4 0 4-5 12, Kyle Davis 4 1 5-5 16, Tanner Bivens 2 1 0-0 7,, Keaton Newsome 0 0 0-0 0, Kaden Coleman 5 0 3-6 13, Daylor Lewis 0 1 0-0 3, Austin Lotspeich 3 0 0-3 6, Clayton Meadows 0 1 0-0 3, Mack Dyer 1 0 1-1 3, Ben Martin 0 0 0-0 0, J.J. Stamper 0 0 0-0 0, Bryson Keeney 0 0 0-0 0, Zeke Emnett 0 0 0-0 0, Justin Saylers 0 0 0-0 0, Trent Salyers 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-57 13-20 63. 3-point goals: 4-20. Rebounds: 17-O, 18-D = 35 (Holden 11, Coleman 8). Team rebounds: 3. Assists: 5 (Holden 3, Davis 2). Steals: 12 (Holden 5). Turnovers: 6. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.