Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Things got tough for Coal Grove, so the Lady Hornets got tough as Addi Dillow scored in the final seconds to edge the Fairland Lady Dragons 49-48 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.
“What a tough second game of the season,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Rick Roach. “As usual, (coach Jon) Buchanan had his kids ready to play. They did a great job transitioning early in the game and we did not. I was really upset with our sloppy play the entire game.”
Dillow had 15 points and eight rebounds while Kaleigh Murphy added 13 points and seven rebounds to lead the Lady Hornets (2-0, 1-0). Abbey Hicks had 12 points and two assists and Jaiden Griffith seven rebounds.
“Dillow was in foul trouble the majority of the game, she had to set a lot. I told the team that someone needed to step up. That’s when Murphy decided to show what she is capable of doing. I was really glad she did. That’s going to help us later in the season,” said Roach.
Tomi Hinkle had 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals to lead Fairland. Harley Lyons scored 13 points while Jessica King grabbed 11 rebounds and Emma Marshall eight.
Roach praised Hicks for her defensive effort.
“Hicks was given the task of guarding Lyons who is a great shooter. Hicks did a good job the entire game with minimal rest. I keep preaching to the team about playing as a team. With our balanced scoring tonight, hopefully, they are beginning to buy in,” said Roach.
Coal Grove got a 3-pointer from Murphy with 1:06 left in the first quarter and the Lady Hornets were up 12-6.
Ellie Holmes scored as Coal Grove went up 19-16 only to have Tomi Hinkle drilled a 3-pointer to tie the game.
Lyons then made two foul shots and Fairland took a 21-19 lead with 1:50 left in the half. Hicks hit two free throws to tie the game at 24 only to have Lyons hit a pair of charity tosses and it was 126-24 at the half.
Coal Grove came back to take a 38-32 lead on a basket by Murphy with 1:43 to go in the third quarter. Fairland came back to take the lead at 39-38 with 6:38 to play on two foul shots by Marshall.
Abbey Hicks made two foul shot to get Coal Grove within 47-45 with 47 seconds left. Emma Marshall then sank a free throw to put Fairland ahead 48-45 three seconds later.
Dillow scored with 29 seconds to play and Coal Grove was within 48-47.
Fairland missed a pair of foul shots with 11 seconds to go and Coal Grove found Dillow open for a layup with five seconds left and the Lady Hornets were up 49-48.
The Lady Dragons lobbed the ball inside to Bailey Roland who put up a shot with two seconds to play. The ball rolled around the rim, stopped and then fell off as the horn sounded.
On Thursday, Fairland host South Point and Coal Grove goes to Gallipolis.
Fairland 6 20 8 14 = 48
Coal Grove 12 12 14 11 = 49
FAIRLAND (1-1, 0-1): Emma Marshall 0-3 0-2 7-10 7, Harley Lyons 1-7 2-7 5-6 13, Alli Penix 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Bailey Roland 2-4 0-5 0-0 4, Katie Brumfield 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Jessica King 1-4 0-0 0-0 2, Tomi Hinkle 2-8 2-4 4-10 14, Jenna Stone 1-5 1-5 1-2 6, Libby Judge 0-0 0-0 0-0, Miaa Howard 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Kirsten Orsbon 1-1 0-0 0-0 2. Totals: 13-56 17-28 48. 3-pt goals: 5-23. Rebounds: 18-O, 25-D = 43 (King 11, Hinkle 8, Marshall 8). Assists: 8 (Stone 4, Hinkle 3). Steals: 9 (Hinkle 3, Stone 2, Marshall 2, Lyons 2). Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.
COAL GROVE (2-0, 1-0): Ellie Holmes 1-3 0-0 0-0 2, Addi Dillow 7-16 0-3 1-2 15, Kaleigh Murphy 4-6 1-1 2-5 13, Abbey Hicks 0-2 2-6 6-8 12, Rylee Harmon 0-2 0-0 0-0 0, Kenadee Keaton 0-0 0-1 0-0 0, Jaiden Griffith 0-3 0-0 2-3 2. Totals: 17-52 11-18 49. 3-pt goals: 4-19. Rebounds: 7-O, 24-D = 31 (Dillow 8, Murphy 7, Griffith 7). Assists: 5 (Hicks 2). Steals: 3. Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 22. Fouled out: Holmes.