WEST PORTSMOUTH – The Coal Grove Hornets couldn’t get in any kind of rhythm, but they did manage to get into the championship game.

Friday, December 29, 2000

WEST PORTSMOUTH – The Coal Grove Hornets couldn’t get in any kind of rhythm, but they did manage to get into the championship game.

Despite a sluggish pace, the Hornets beat the host Portsmouth West Senators 53-43 Thursday and reached the championship game of the Portsmouth West Holiday Tournament.

"It seemed like there was never any rhythm to the game. We’d score six and then it would be three and a half minutes before anyone else scored. It was a game of spurts," Hornets coach Darrell Humphreys said.

Coal Grove plays Minford at 8 p.m. Friday in the championship game. Minford beat Portsmouth Notre Dame in the first game.

It was some second half spurts that enabled the Hornets to turn a two-point halftime lead into a 10-point win.

Ryan Young scored 22 points, had six rebounds, five assists, and four steals to lead the Hornets (4-2). Jason Winters had 19 points and three steals.

Cory Demorest got 13 points and Aaron Spencer 10 for West.

Winters scored eight points the first quarter as Coal Grove took a 13-9 lead. The Hornets were up 22-20 at the break.

Young got hot and scored eight the third quarter as Coal Grove went up 38-33.

Coal Grove converted 7-of-11 from the line the fourth quarter including Young who was 3-of-4.

"We’re winning close ball games and not everyone is clicking just yet," said Humphreys.

"West did a good job of slowing the game down. It wasn’t a pretty game to watch, but we got the win and that’s what’s important. Give their kids credit. Every time we’d get ahead, they’d fight back. But our kids will fight you right back."

The consolation game pits West against Notre Dame at 6 p.m.

Coal Grove 13 9 16 15 – 53

Prts. West 9 11 13 10 – 43

COAL GROVE (4-2): Ryan Young 5 2 6-7 22, Jason Winters 3 3 4-6 19, Jason Adams 3 0 0-2 6, Brandon Waller 0 0 2-3 2, Joe Sark 1 0 0-0 2, Eric Tackett 1 0 0-0 2, Beau Webb 0 0 0-0 0, Justin Gibson Jacob Ball Caleb Potter 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 5 12-18 53. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 10-17=27 (Young 6, Tackett 4). Assists: 14 (Young 5, Sark 4, Webb 3). Steals: 12 (Young 4, Winters 3, Webb 3).

PORTSMOUTH WEST: Cory Demorest 3 1 4-7 13, Aaron Spencer 2 2 0-2 10, Daniel Dever 3 0 1-1 7, Zach Evans 2 0 2-4 6, Jeremiah Lens 1 0 0-0 2, Michael Evans 1 0 1-2 3, Bryson Williams 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 13 3 8-16 43. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.