Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

HAMLIN, W.Va. — Instead of famous Chicago Cubs double play trio of Tinker to Evers to Chance, it was Dillow to Hicks to McKnight.
With the game tied and nine seconds to play, Addi Dillow pushed the basketball up the court and passed to Abbey Hicks at the 3-point line who found a wide-open Baylee McKnight alone under the basket for the game-winning basket as time expired.
Teamwork was the key as the Coal Grove Lady Hornets beat the Lincoln County Lady Panthers 57-55 on Monday.
“I was super impressed with the way we moved the ball. Dillow was doing a good job getting to the basket and also finding the open man,” said Coal Grove coach Rick Roach.
“A huge shout out goes to McKnight late in the fourth quarter she hit two big free throws to put us ahead and score the game-winner.”
McKnight scored a game-high 19 points and Dillow had 17 points for Coal Grove (6-3).
Carly McComas and Natalie Fout scored 17points each and Graci Brumfield 14 to pace the Lady Panthers (1-2).
McKnight scored nine points and Dillow seven points — they each hit a 3-pointer — as Coal Grove jumped out to a 23-12 lead. McComas hit a pair of 3-pointer for the Lady Panthers.
In the second quarter, six different players scored for Coal Grove while Fout and McComas had four each for Lincoln County and it was 37-26 at the half.
“The first half we shot really well. (Destiny) Dolen played great defense on their guard which disrupted their offense,” said Roach.
“Lincoln County tightened the defense in the second half and we backed down on our aggressiveness.”
Fout scored 11 points — she had a trey and was 2-of-3 at the line — as the Lady Panthers slice two points off the lead as Coal Grove led 49-40.
Lincoln County was 5-of-8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter with Brumfield and McComas combining for 11 points.
But McKnight scored eight points including 4-of-4 at the line and she made two clutch shots to tie the game to set up her winning basket.
Coal Grove plays at Jackson on Thursday.
Coal Grove 23 14 12 10 = 57
Lincoln Co. 12 14 14 15 = 55
COAL GROVE (6-3): Addi Dillow 6 1 2-2 17, Baylee McKnight 6 1 4-4 19, Kaleigh Murphy 3 0 1-1 7, Abbey Hicks 0 0 0-0 0, Destiny Dolen 2 0 0-0 4, Lauren Crum 1 1 0-0 5, Jaiden Griffith 1 0 3-3 5. Totals: 22-61 10-13 57. 3-pt goals: 3. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Dolen.
LINCOLN COUNTY (1-2): Graci Brumfield 3 1 5-8 14, Allison Farmer 0 0 2-2 2, Carly McComas 5 2 1-2 17, Natalie Fout 4 2 3-5 17, Kiaura Henderson 0 0 1-2 1, Allee Albright 0 0 0-0 0, Kenley Kyeton 2 0 0-0 4, Kylee Adkins 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-40 12-19 55. 3-pt goals: 5. Fouls: 14. Fouled out. Brumfield.