Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — The Coal Grove Hornets were missing their leading scorer, but they didn’t feel sorry for themselves.
Instead, the Hornets banded together and managed to fight their way to a 44-39 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Rock Hill Redmen on Tuesday.
Evan Gannon scored 17 points to lead seven different in the scoring column for Coal Grove (2-3, 2-1).
Braden Stamper had 13 points and Logan Hankins 12 to pace Rock Hill (2-4, 0-2).
Rock Hill led 9-7 after the first quarter as Stamper had 7 points including a 3-pointer. Gannon had a trey for the Hornets.
Ethan Short scored all 5 of his points in the second quarter as Coal Grove rallied to take 21-15 halftime lead.
Stamper had another triple and five players scored as Rock Hill got within 27-26 at the end of the third quarter.
But Gannon hit a 3-pointers and was 3-of-4 at the line as he scored 8 points, the Hornets converted 8-of-10 from the line and Peyton Smith got a steal and went coast-to-coast with 26 seconds left to seal the win.
Hankins had 7 points in the quarter for the Redmen.
On Friday, Dec. 27, Coal Grove host Fairview while Rock Hill plays at Oak Hill.
Coal Grove 7 14 6 17 = 44
Rock Hill 9 6 11 13 = 39
COAL GROVE (2-3, 2-1): Perry Kingery 0 0 0-0 0, Evan Gannon 3 2 5-6 17, Peyton Smith 3 0 2-3 8, Tait Matney 0 0 2-2 2, Malachi Wheeler 2 0 3-4 7, Jarren Hicks 0 0 2-5 2, Ethan Short 2 0 1-2 5, Trevor Carey 1 0 1-2 3. Totals: 11 2 16-24 44. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.
ROCK HILL (2-4, 0-2): Logan Hankins 3 0 6-8 12, Garrett Miller 2 0 0-0 4, Caleb Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Nick Blankenship 1 0 0-0 2, Braden Stamper 2 3 0-0 13, Owen Hankins 1 0 0-0 2, Brayden Malone 3 0 0-0 6, Jacob Schwab 0 0 0-0 2. Totals: 10 3 6-8 39. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Miller.