Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

LUCASVILLE — The Coal Grove Lady Hornets were like a cake. They started flat but then just kept rising.
After a slow start, the Lady Hornets began to pick up their defense in the second half as they beat the Lucasville Valley Lady Indians 51-40 on Saturday.
“We came out flat to start the game and we were not playing very good defense. At halftime, I think we finally woke up and came out a little more aggressive,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Rick Roach.
Coal Grove used a pair of 3-pointers by Baylee McKnight and four points by Destiny Dolen to lead 12-10 at the end of the first quarter. Bre Call had six points and Brooklyn Buckle four to keep Valley close.
Addi Dillow then got hot and hit a trey and scored eight points in the second quarter and it was 24-22 at the half.
Six different players scored for the Lady Indians in the quarter.
Kaleigh Murphy had six of her eight points in the third quarter, Dillow scored four and McKnight hit another trifecta while the defense held Valley to five points and the Lady Hornets took a 37-27 lead.
“McKnight did a good job shooting early to allow us to have a slight lead,” said Roach. “The last few games we have been getting points from a variety of people. I think that will help us later down the line.”
The Lady Hornets had six different players score in the fourth quarter and they made 5-of-7 free throws to counter six points by Call and five by Kaity Howard.
Dillow led Coal Grove (4-2) with 15 points with McKnight scored 12. Dolen added eight points.
Call finished with 18 points to lead the Lady Indians.
“Valley will win some games this year and will be tough come tournament time. Call did a great job for them getting open and knocking down some shots,” said Roach.
Coal Grove 12 12 13 14 = 51
Lucasville 10 12 5 13 = 40
COAL GROVE (4-2): Addi Dillow 4 2 1-3 15, Baylee McKnight 1 3 1-2 12, Kaleigh Murphy 2 0 4-5 8, Abbey Hicks 1 0 2-3 4, Destiny Dolen 2 0 4-6 8, Lauren Crum 2 0 0-0 4, Jaiden Griffith 0 0 0-2 0. Totals: 17-52 12-21 51. 3-pt goals: 5. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
LUCASVILLE VALLEY (NA): Brooklyn Buckle 4 0 0-0 8, Bre Call 3 3 3-5 18, M. Dunham 0 0 0-0 0, Karsyn Conaway 0 0 2-2 2, Kaity Howard 2 1 0-0 7, Bailee Day 1 0 0-0 2, Chalee Hettinger 0 0 2-4 2, Nichole Gilliland 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 14-43 8-14 40. 3-pt goals: 4. Fouls 19. Fouled out: None.