Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — If South Point head coach Travis Wise had any questions about how his bench could play, they were answered in their season opener.
Starters Chance Gunther and Nakyan Turner got in first half foul trouble but Jake Adams, Darryl Taylor and Carmelo Sammons all played well off the bench as the Pointers outlasted the Portsmouth Trojans 82-75 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Tuesday.
“We were without Gunther and Turner most of the first half with foul trouble. Jake Adams and Carmello and Taylor all came in and played well,” said Wise. “We’re going to need their contributions all season.”
On the negative side, the Pointers had 17 turnovers and Wise said that has to change.
“We had too many turnovers. We need to do a better job taking care of the ball. You can’t make that many mistakes and expect to win.”
Gunther led the Pointers with 25 points including 10-of-10 at the foul line. Austin Webb scored 20 points and pulled down 15 rebounds while Turner scored 12.
Portsmouth (1-1, 0-1) had five players in double figures led by Matthew Fraulini with 21 points. Dariyonne Bryant scored 15, Amare Johnson and Drew Roe 12 each and Miles Shipp 10.
South Point was leading 68-65 after a free throw by Webb with39 seconds to play in regulation. But Fraulini hit a 3-pointer to tie the game and each team missed a chance to score in the final seconds.
In overtime, Gunther was 5-of-6 at the line, Webb 3-of-4, Brody Blackwell 2-of-2 and Turner added a basket and a foul shot as South Point outscored the Trojans 14-7. Fraulini had 5 of the Trojans’ points.
Portsmouth led 14-13 after the first quarter but South Point got its offense rolling in the second quarter as Taylor got 6 points off the bench, Gunther and Webb each scored 4 points and Blackwell hit a 3-pointer and it was 34-22 at the half.
Fraulini and Roe got 7 points each in the third quarter s the Trojans got within striking distance at 55-49.
The Pointers used 10 points by Webb to hold the lead.
On Friday, South Point goes to Fairland and Portsmouth host Chesapeake.
Portsmouth 14 8 21 19 7 = 75
South Point 13 21 21 13 14 = 82
PORTSMOUTH (1-1, 0-1): Amare Johnson 4 0 4-4 12, Matt Fraulini 5 2 5-5 21, Dariyonne Bryant 7 0 1-1 15, Drew Roe 3 2 0-0 12, Jesse Dixon 0 1 0-0 3, Michael Duncan 1 0 0-0 2, Miles Shipp 5 0 0-0 10, Chris Duff 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25 5 10-10 75.
SOUTH POINT (1-0, 1-0): Chance Gunther 6 1 10-10 25, Brody Blackwell 1 1 2-2 7, Austin Webb 7 0 6-8 20, Nakyan Turner 4 1 1-1 12, Mason Kazee 3 0 0-0 6, Darryl Taylor 4 0 0-0 8, Jake Adams 2 0 0-0 4, Carmelo Sammons 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 3 19-21 82. Rebounds: 39 (Webb 15). Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.