Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

GALLIPOLIS — No Zach Loveday, no problem.
The Gallipolis Blue Devils’ 7-foot-1 junior center Zach Loveday transferred to Huntington Prep on Monday leaving a huge hole in the offensive and defensive game plan.
Although departure caught the Blue Devils by surprise, they pulled together and beat the South Point Pointers 54-43 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Tuesday.
Logan Blouir had 14 points and Cory Call 11 to lead a balanced offense for Gallipolis (6-3, 3-1).
South Point (4-4, 2-2) was led by Chance Gunther with a game-high 22 points. Austin Webb had 10 points, three assists and four blocked shots. Marcus Malone grabbed 10 rebounds.
Gallipolis led 10-8 after the first quarter on five points from Caleb Henry and a 3-pointer by Justin McClelland. Gunther — who had five points — and Brody Blackwell each hit 3-pointers.
Cary had a pair of 3-pointres and scored seven points and six different players scored as Gallipolis went up 33-23 at the half.
Gunther hit a pair of treys and scored 13 of the Pointers’ 15 points in the quarter.
The Blue Devils extended the lead to 42-31 after three quarters despite six points by Webb.
Each team had 12 points in the fourth quarter as Blouir hit a pair of trifectas and scored eight point while Blaine Carter had four points.
Webb had four more points for South Point.
On Friday, South Point hosts Ironton and Gallipolis entertains Fairland.
South Point 8 15 8 12 = 43
Gallipolis 10 23 9 12 = 54
SOUTH POINT (4-4, 2-2): Darryl Taylor 0 0 0-0 0, Chance Gunther 4 3 5-8 22, Nakyan Turner 0 0 2-2 2, Roger Staggs 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Webb 5 0 0-0 10, Kyle Badgett 0 0 0-0 0, Brody Blackwell 0 1 0-0 3, Marcus Malone 2 0 0-1 4. Totals: 16-35 7-9 43. 3-pt goals: 4-8. Rebounds: 6-O, 18-D = 24 (Malone 10). Assists: 8 (Webb 3). Steals: 4. Blocks: 9 (Webb 4, Malone 4). Turnovers: 21. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.
GALLIPOLIS (6-3, 3-1): Cole Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Henry 4 0 1-2 9, Justin McClelland 1 1 1-3 6, Blaine Carter 4 0 1-1 9, Logan Blouir 3 2 2-2 14, Cory Call 2 2 1-2 11, Ben Cox 2 0 1-4 5, Bailey Walker 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-54 7-14 54. 3-pt goals: 5-11. Rebounds: 12-O, 14-D = 26 (Call 8). Assists: 15 (Henry 4). Steals: 10 (Blouir 3). Blocks: 3 (Carter 2). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.