Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — And the Coal Grove Hornets keep on rolling.
The Hornets had three players in double figures and kept pace in the Ohio Valley Conference title chase with a 64-33 rout of the Portsmouth Trojans on Tuesday.
Cory Borders and Jaylen McKenzie scored 15 points each while Evan Gannon had 13 as the Hornets stayed one game back in the OVC race with a 6-2 record.
McKenzie also had five assists and Aaron Music had four assists to go with four rebounds. Borders had five rebounds.
Matt Fraulini had 19 points for Portsmouth.
Coal Grove (11-4) built a comfortable first half lead as they cruised to the win.
Gannon hit a pair of 3-pointers along with two foul shots as the Hornets lead 14-7 after the first quarter.
Borders and Gannon had treys in the second quarter as Coal Grove extended its lead to 26-11 at the half.
The Hornets opened up a 46-25 lead after three quarters thanks to seven points each from Borders and McKenzie.
Fraulini hit three 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the third quarter
Coal Grove outscored the Trojans 18-8 in the fourth quarter as Evan Holmes had two baskets and Kyle Sites and Borders knocked down 3-pointers.
On Friday, Coal Grove hosts Fairland and Portsmouth goes to South Point.
Coal Grove 14 12 20 18 = 64
Portsmouth 7 4 14 8 = 33
COAL GROVE (11-4, 6-2): Aaron Music 4 0 0-0 8, Cory Borders 2 3 2-2 15, Evan Gannon 1 3 2-2 13, Evan Holmes 2 0 0-0 4, Nate Harmon 1 0 0-0 2, Kyle Sites 0 1 0-0 3, Jaylen McKenzie 6 0 3-3 15, Justin Hicks 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan Short 0 0 0-0 0, Trevor Carey 0 0 0-0 0, Payten Smith 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 18 7 7-7 64. Rebounds: 21 (Borders 5, Music 4). Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.
PORTSMOUTH (6-9, 2-6): Amare Johnson 0 0 1-2 1, Matt Fraulini 2 4 3-5 19, Danny Lattimore 3 0 0-0 6, Jack Workman 0 0 1-2 1, Miles Shipp 2 0 0-0 4, Eric Purdy 1 0 0-0 2, Drew Roe 0 0 0-0 0, Myquel McKinley 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 8 4 5-9 33. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.