Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — There was an old hit song by Chicago as Robert Lamb and company sang, “Feeling stronger ev’ry day.”
Well, the Coal Grove Lady Hornets may not be feeling stronger ev’ry day, but they did feel that way on Thursday as they beat the South Point Lady Pointers 49-42 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
Coal Grove (16-5, 10-4) was having trouble on the boards against South Point’s inside players Madison Kearns and Ashley Perkey.
“(Destiny) Dolen had a difficult time guarding Kearns who is a very strong, aggressive kid. It showed because Dolen got in some foul trouble and had to sit,” said Coal Grove coach Rick Roach.
“At halftime, we walked about being strong on the boards. (Kasey) Murphy and (Emily) Compliment stepped up and had 18 rebounds between the two of them.”
Baylee McKnight scored a career-high 20 points to lead Coal Grove while Compliment had 16 points.
“The best way to describe how we played was sloppy. Even though we got a win, I wasn’t pleased with our overall performance,” said Roach. “A shining light in the dark was Baylee McKnight. I like the way she has come on since sitting out a few games with an injury.”
Emilee Whitt scored 17 points and Kearns had 10 points for the Lady Pointers (10-11, 7-7). Leah Lawson added eight points.
Coal Grove led 13-8 at the end of the first quarter as McKnight and Compliment combine for 11 points. Whitt hit a 3-pointer and scored seven points.
McKnight and Compliment each hit 3-pointers in the second quarter as Coal Grove extended its lead to 24-15.
The Lady Pointers cut the deficit to 35-28 in the third quarter as Lawson scored six points including a 3-point goal. Kearns was 3-of-4 at the line.
McKnight had five points and was 3-of-3 at the line.
In the fourth quarter, Compliment and McKnight scored six points each as Coal Grove and South Point each scored 14 points.
Compliment was 4-of-4 at the line and McKnight 3-of-4.
Whitt scored six points and made 4-of-4 foul shots while Kearns added a trifecta.
The Lady Hornets will honor their successful group of seniors in a 1 p.m. varsity-only game on Saturday when they host Lincoln County, W.Va.
In the Division III sectional at Jackson on Monday, South Point plays Chesapeake at 5 p.m. and Coal Grove faces Wellston at 8:30.
Coal Grove    13    11    11    14    =    49
South Point    8    7    13    14    =    42
COAL GROVE (16-5, 10-4): Addi Dillow 1 0 0-4 2, Baylee McKnight 4 2 6-8 20, Emily Compliment 4 1 5-6 16, Kasey Murphy 3 0 0-0 6, Destiny Dolen 2 0 1-3 5, Emileigh Bryant 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 3 12-21 49. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.
SOUTH POINT (10-11, 7-7): Emilee Whitt 5 1 4-4 17, Sydney Markel 0 0 0-0 0, Jaden Howard 0 0 0-0 0, Maddy Khounlavong 0 0 0-0 0, Leah Lawson 2 1 1-4 8, Kate Mundy 0 0 1-2 1, Madison Kearns 1 1 5-8 10, Ashley Perkey 2 0 0-0 4, Sara Roach 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 11 3 11-18 42. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.