By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

SOUTH POINT — After suffering heavy losses from last year, the South Point Lady Pointers are starting to return to their old form.

The Lady Pointers won their third straight as they held off the Chesapeake Lady Panthers 56-52 on Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“This was a big win for us. Chesapeake is a good team and they’re a contender in the league,” said Lady Pointers’ coach Dave Adams.

“We were really inexperienced to start the year but we’ve been getting better each game. We’ve come a long way from that first game.”

Allison Mitchell had 16 points and Erin Dillow 12 to lead the Lady Pointers (4-3, 2-0).

Amanda Ruffner had a game-high 26 points to go with 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocked shots. Her field goal at the 5:02 mark gave her 1,000 career points.

Jordan Porter added 9 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals for the Lady Panthers (3-3, 0-2).

Chesapeake coach Chris Ball was disappointed in the team’s offensive play throughout most of the game.

“As hard as our girls played in the fourth quarter to get back in it, it all goes back to the first three quarters when we failed to execute on offense. We had too many turnovers and tried to force the issue. We needed to be more patient,” said Ball.

South Point led by as many as 14 points in the first half before Chesapeakecut the deficit to 22-17 at the half.

The lead was 39-30 after three quarter and 48-36 lead with 3:11 to go.

The momentum changed when Mitchell went to the bench with her fifth foul and Chesapeake stormed back to within 54-52 as Ruffner scored 8 points.

But Lakin Adams’ layup clinched the win for the Lady Pointers.

Ball said Ruffner’s milestone basket was bittersweet.

“We’re happy and proud for Amanda. She’s very deserving. But she would agree that we’d take a win over any individual accomplishment,” said Ball.

Chesapeake 7 10 13 22 = 52

South Point 16 6 17 17 = 56

CHESAPEAKE (3-3, 0-2): Kelsey Curry 0 0 0-0 0, Amanda Ruffner 11 0 4-6 26, Jackie Nelson 3 0 1-2 7, Sarah Rice 0 1 1-2 4, Sidnee Hall 2 0 0-0 4, Maggie Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Mackenzie Moore 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan Porter 1 0 7-12 9. Totals: 18 1 13-20 52. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Smith.

SOUTH POINT (4-3, 2-0): Abbey Winkler 1 0 0-0 2, Allison Mitchell 7 0 2-4 16, Erin Dillow 2 2 2-2 12, Eryn Khounlavong 2 0 0-0 4, Brianna Whaley 1 0 0-0 2, Brett Justice 2 0 2-2 6, Laken Adams 2 0 1-1 5, Aundrea Bradburn 0 3 0-0 9. Totals: 17 5 7-9 56. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Justice, Mitchell.