Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — Two halves make a whole.
Trailing at the half, the Coal Grove Hornets outscored the Portsmouth Trojans 31-24 in the second half and posted a 59-53 Ohio Valley Conference win on Tuesday.
Jeb Jones, Jordan Case, Aaron Music and Sam Angelo keyed the second half rally as they combined for 28 points.
“Portsmouth is a good team. We played hard and executed better,” said Hornets’ coach Kevin Vanderhoof. “We shot the ball well and played good defense. We have to cut our turnovers down.”
Cory Borders scored 14 points — 11 in the first half — to lead four players in double figures. Angelo and Music scored 12 each and Jones had 10 to lead the Hornets (8-3, 4-2). Case added nine points.
Portsmouth (8-4, 3-3) had three players in double figures. Matthew Fraulini had 11 points while Daniel Jordan and Danny Lattimore scored 10 each.
Music scored six points and Borders and Angelo hit 3-pointers as Coal Grove took a 14-11 first quarter lead. Fraulini had seven points including a pair of 3-pointers for the Trojans.
Borders hit two more 3-pointers and scored eight points as Coal Grove took a 25-18 lead. But Portsmouth went on a 10-0 run to take a 28-25 lead and was up 29-28 at the half.
Case scored seven points in the third quarter, Borders and Angelo hit 3-pointers as Coal Grove rallied to take 45-42 lead.
Jones had six points while Music and Angelo had four each in the fourth quarter.
The Hornets were up 53-51 when Angelo came up with a steal and turned it into a basket. Music added two foul shots that helped seal the win.
On Friday, Coal Grove visits Fairland while Portsmouth host South Point.
Portsmouth    11    18    13    11    =    53
Coal Grove    14    14    17    14    =    59
PORTSMOUTH (8-4, 3-3): D.J. Eley 1 1 2-2 7, Matthew Fraulini 1 2 3-4 11, Daniel Jordan 4 0 2-3 10, Danny Lattimore 4 0 2-2 10, Miquel McKinley 1 0 0-0 2, Isaac Kelly 2 0 0-0 4, Reese Johnson 2 1 0-0 7, Gabe Gambill 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 16 49-11 53. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.
COAL GROVE (8-3, 4-2): Aaron Music 5 0 2-5 12, Cordy Borders 1 4 0-0 14, Jordan Case 3 0 3-4 9, Jeb Jones 5 0 0-0 10, Nate Harmon 0 0 0-0 0, Jalen McKenzie 0 0 0-0 0, Sam Angelo 3 2 0-2 12, Alijah Roman 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 18 6 5-11 59. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.