Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — The Coal Grove Hornets had another battle on their hands Friday night, and they also came away with another win.
The Hornets fought their way past the stubborn South Point Pointers 54-47 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
“We just continue to fight. We wanted 10 conference wins, so I told the seniors at the start of the fourth quarter they weren’t coming out. It was a good win. South Point played hard,” said Hornets’ coach Kevin Vanderhoof.
Coal Grove is now 16-5 and tied the school record for the most wins in the regular season. The Hornets go for the record against Sciotoville East on Saturday.
“I’m proud of them,” said Vanderhoof. “It’s all because they work their tails off. I love these guys. You never know from night to night who the guy is who is going to be step up and gives up what we need.”
Sam Angelo scored 13 points while Jeb Jones and Jalen McKenzie had 12 points each to lead the Hornets.
South Point (9-13, 5-9) was led by Austin Webb with 15 points and six rebounds. Chance Gunther and Jared Whitt scored eight points each for the Pointers who were playing without injured leading scorer Tayshaun Fox.
The Hornets held a 38-18 rebound advantage.
Coal Grove jumped out to a 16-7 first quarter lead as Jones scored six points and Aaron Music and Jordan Case had four each.
Gunther scored four points and Brody Blackwell hit a 3-pointer for South Point’s scoring in the quarter.
Webb had nine points in the second quarter as South Point climbed to within 25-21 at the half. Angelo hit a 3-pointer for the Hornets as four different players scored.
The Pointers sliced the deficit to 34-32 at the end of the third quarter as five different players scored for South Point.
In the fourth quarter, Angelo scored eight points and McKenzie scored seven points including three clutch free throws.
Douglas Shaffer and Whitt hit 3-pointers, Webb scored four points and Roger Staggs sank three foul shots.
Coal Grove will play at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the Division IV sectional at Northwest.
South Point faces River Valley at 8 p.m. on Tuesday in the Division III sectional at Jackson.
Coal Grove    16    9    9    20    =    54
South Point    7    14    11    15    =    47
COAL GROVE (16-5, 10-4): Aaron Music 3 0 0-0 6, Cory Borders 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan Case 3 0 0-0 6, Jeb Jones 6 0 0-3 12, Nate Harmon 0 0 0-2 0, Jaylen McKenzie 4 0 4-7 12, Sam Angelo 5 1 0-1 13, Alijah Roman 2 0 1-2 5. Totals: 23 1 5-15 54. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.
SOUTH POINT (9-13, 5-9): Chance Gunther 4 0 0-0 8, Nakyan Turner 1 0 0-0 2, Derek McCarty 0 0 0-0 0, Roger Staggs 1 0 4-8 6, Douglas Shaffer 1 1 0-0 5, Jared Whitt 1 2 0-2 8, Brody Blackwell 0 1 0-0 3, Larry Fox 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Webb 7 0 1-1 15. Totals: 19-42 5-11 47. 3-pt goals: 4-16. Rebounds: 5-O, 13-O = 18 (Webb 6, White 5). Assists: 8 (Gunther 4). Steals: 4 (Gunther 2). Turnovers: 6. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.