Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — Cory Borders kept going deep. Unfortunately, the Raceland Rams just kept going.
Borders scored a game-high 29 points including seven 3-pointers but the Rams started well and never let up in a 71-61 win over the Coal Grove Hornets in the season opener on Tuesday.
Raceland (1-0) was led by three players in double figures. Kirk Pence had 24 points, Austin Cumpton 23 and Andrew Floyd 10.
Trevor Carey and Malachi Wheeler had 7 points each for Coal Grove.
Raceland jumped in front 16-11 in the first quarter as Cumpton and Pence combined for 13 points. Borders had 5 points including a 3-pointer.
Coal Grove could only manage 7 points in the second quarter and the Rams took the opportunity to score 18 points and build a 34-18 halftime cushion.
Pence hit a 3-pointer and score 9 points while Gunnur Lewis was 5-of-6 at the foul line.
The third quarter became a shootout between the Rams and Borders as each team scored 20 points.
Borders scorched the nets for 16 points including 4 shots from behind the arc. Cumpton had 7 points, Kyle Broughton had a pair of 3-pointers and Pence got 5 points as the Rams held onto their lead, 54-38.
Borders wasn’t as hot in the fourth quarter as Raceland adjusted to try and slow him down. He had a pair of 3-pointers as he scored 8 points. Evan Gannon hit a 3-pointers and scored 5 points, but Cumpton scored 9 points for the Rams to erase any comeback hopes by the Hornets.
Coal Grove hosts Fairland next Tuesday.
Raceland 16 18 20 17 = 71
Coal Grove 11 7 20 23 = 61
RACELAND (1-0): Andrew Floyd 1 2 2-4 10, Kirk Pence 7 2 4-5 24, Kyle Broughton 0 2 0-0 6, Justin Stephens 1 0 1-1 3, Austin Cumpton 9 0 5-8 23, Gunnur Lewis 0 0 5-6 5, Chase Thornsberry 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 6 17-24 71. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.
COAL GROVE (1-0): Cory Borders 4 7 0-2 29, Evan Gannon 1 1 0-0 5, Trevor Hankins 1 0 0-0 2, Tait Matney 2 0 0-0 4, Malachi Wheeler 3 0 1-2 7, Jarren Hicks 1 0 1-2 3, Ethan Short 0 0 0-0 0, Trevor Carey 2 0 3-6 7, Peyton Smith 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 16 8 5-12 61. Fouls: 22. Fouled out: Smith, Wheeler.