Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — The duel between Coal Grove’s Emily Compliment and Gallipolis’ Alex Barnes ended in a draw.
But thanks to Compliment’s teammates the Lady Hornets beat the Blue Angels 61-49 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday.
Compliment scored a season-high 27 points to match the total by Barnes. But Destiny Dolen scored 14 points, Jaidyn Griffith had eight and Addie Dillow six. Kasey Murphy had nine rebounds and four points.
The closest scorer behind Barnes was Ryelee Sipple with nine points, Maddy Petro had seven and Ashton Webb six.
“Defense was not that great tonight,” said Coal Grove coach Rick Roach. “We would go on a run and then get lazy and give up a few points.
“I was happy with the way we shared the ball. We had 17 assists for the game. (Kasey) Murphy rebounded well as usual. Compliment was able to have a great shooting night. I was also happy with freshman Jaiden Griffith. She gave us some good quality minutes.”
Compliment — who was 10-of-20 shooting for the game — hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored eight points in the first quarter as Coal Grove took a 17-15 lead.
Barnes scored nine points including a 3-pointer and Pedro had seven points to keep the game close.
The Lady Hornets pulled away to a 39-23 halftime cushion with a balanced offense in the second quarter.
Dolen scored six points, Compliment five and Dillow and Griffith four each. Barnes had five points and Webb hit a 3-pointer to account for the Blue Angels’ scoring.
The Lady Hornets went up 52-35 after three quarters as Compliment hit two more trifectas and scored nine points. Barnes had eight of the Blue Angels’ 12 points in the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Sipple had seven points and Barnes five as Gallipolis tried to make a comeback. But Compliment scored five points while Murphy and Griffith each added a basket as the Lady Hornets sealed the win.
On Monday, Coal Grove hosts Rock Hill and Gallipolis entertains South Point.
Gallipolis    15    8    12    14    =    49
Coal Grove    17    22    13    9    =    61
GALLIPOLIS (8-8, 3-7): Abby Cremeans 0 0 0-0 0, Arianna Jordan 0 0 0-0 0, Alex Barnes 8 2 5-12 27, Ashton Webb 1 1 1-2 6, Maddy Petro 3 0 1-2 7, Truance 0 0 0-00, Molly Fitzwater 0 0 0-0 0, Macey Siders 0 0 0-0 0, Ryelee Sipple 3 1 0-0 9, Lilly Rees 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-51 7-16 49. 3-pt goals: 4. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.
COAL GROVE (12-4, 7-3): Addie Dillow 3 0 0-0 6, Halie Frazier 0 0 0-0 0, Emily Compliment 6 4 3-6 27, Makayla Daniels 0 0 0-00, Kasey Murphy 1 0 2-5 4, Destiny Dolen 7 0 0-0 14, Jaidyn Griffith 4 0 0-0 8, Emileigh Bryant 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 26-59 5-11 61. 3-pt goals: 4. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.