Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — This was one time the Coal Grove Hornets didn’t mind it being second.
The Hornets exploded for 27 points in the second quarter and went on to beat the South Point Pointers 59-50 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
“We played really well in the first half. (South Point coach Travis Wise) made some adjustments at halftime and slowed us down,” said Hornets’ coach Kevin Vanderhook.
“Our team is just peaks and valleys. We play well for a five or six-minute stretch and then we go into a lull. We need to learn to play with some consistency. But we’re getting there. We’re getting better.”
Coal Grove (8-3, 3-2) trailed 15-14 at the end of the first quarter as the Pointers’ Austin Webb scored six points and Derek McCarty four to give them the lead.
Then came the second quarter and Aaron Music — who had eight points in the first quarter — scored 11 points and Nate Harmon got all eight of his points as Coal Grove rallied to take a 41-29 halftime lead.
Jared Whitt scored eight points and Douglas Shaffer hit a 3-pointer to keep the Pointers within range.
The pace slowed in the third quarter as Shaffer hit another trifecta and the Pointers cut the deficit to 47-39.
Webb scored seven points in the fourth quarter but the Hornets got four points from Sam Angelo and converted 6-of-12 free throws to prevent a South Point comeback.
Jeb Jones and Cory Borders made three foul shots each with Jones scoring five of his eight points in the quarter.
Music finished the game with 21 points — 19 coming in the first half. Angelo scored 14 points while Borders, Harmon and Jones had eight each.
South Point (3-6, 1-4) was led by Webb with 18 points. Whitt finished with 13 and Shaffer had 11.
On Tuesday, South Point is at Chesapeake and Coal Grove hosts Portsmouth.
South Point    15    14    10    11    =    50
Coal Grove    14    27    6    12    =    59
SOUTH POINT (3-6, 1-4): Chance Gunther 1 0 0-0 2, Nakyan Turner 0 0 0-0 0, Derek McCarty 1 0 2-2 4, Roger Staggs 0 0 0-0 0, Douglas Shaffer 0 3 2-3 11, Jared Whitt 5 0 3-4 13, Tayshaun Fox 0 0 0-0 0, Dustin McCarty 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Webb 7 0 4-6 18, Brody Blackwell 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 3 11-15 50. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.
COAL GROVE (8-3, 3-2): Aaron Music 9 0 3-6 21, Cory Borders 1 1 3-4 8, Jordan Case 0 0 0-2 0, Jeb Jones 2 0 4-8 8, Nate Harmon 4 0 0-0 8, Payten Smith 0 0 0-0 0, Sam Angelo 7 0 0-2 14, Alijah Roman 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 1 10-22 59. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.