Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WHEELERSBURG — Looks like little brother is growing up.
After being dominated by Wheelersburg for years, the South Point Pointers beat the Pirates 4-2 on Tuesday and improved to 4-2 over the past five years.
Jake Helton and Merrick Harris combined for four goals and an assist as the Pointers improved to 7-5-1.
“Jake Helton and Merrick Harris provided great offense and the defense played great by shutting them out in the second half,” said Pointers’ coach Zane Joy.
Harris got an unassisted goal at the 11-minute mark but the Pirates used a penalty kick by Christian Hughes to tie the game five minutes later.
South Point answered with their own penalty kick by Helton at the 29-minute mark for a 2-1 lead.
The lead was short lived as Dolton Wood scored with an assist from Hughes to tie the game one minute later.
South Point took the lead for good on a goal by Harris with 41 minutes on the clock as Helton got the assist.
Helton then scored on a direct kick with 49:00 to go and the Pointers defense did the rest.
The Pointers visit Gallipolis on Thursday and need a win to earn a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title.
Wheelersburg (6-5-0) is at Northwest on Thursday for an SOC game.
South Point    2    2    =    4
Wheelersburg    2    0    =    2
First Half
SP — Merrick Harris (unassisted) 11:00
Wh — Christian Hughes (penalty kick) 16:00
SP — Jake Helton (penalty kick) 29:00
Wh — Dolton Wood (assist Christian Hughes) 30:00
Second Half
SP — Merrick Harris (assist Jake Helton) 41:00
SP — Jake Helton (direct kick) 49:00
Goalkeepers—SP: Jordan Perkey 7 saves; WH: Dylan Burton 9 saves