By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

SOUTH POINT — Picking up the pace helped the South Point Pointers pick up a win.

The Pointers scored 49 points in the second half and rallied for a 78-64 win over the Huntington (W.Va.) St. Joe Fighting Irish Tuesday.

“We got the pace going better in the second half. It was more of the pace we like to play,” said Pointers’ coach Chris Barnes.

“(St. Joe) has some kids who can shoot the ball. They just aren’t very big. They were a perfect matchup for us because we’re not very big.”

South Point (3-4) trailed 30-29 at the half, but Brandon Barnes scored eight points in the third quarter as the Pointers surged ahead 50-40.

Kyle Winkler then scored 10 points and Blake Barnes nine in the fourth quarter as the Pointers outscored the Irish 28-24 to get the win.

Blake Barnes finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Brandon Barnes scored 19 points including four 3-pointers and Winkler had 17 points — all in the second half — to go with six rebounds and four assists.

“Winkler was the difference in the game. He played his best game of the year in just one half,” said coach Barnes. “I was more impressed with his assists and rebounds.”

Taylor Lockhart led the Irish with 16 points. Josh Pierson and Phil Harris scored 15 each.

The Pointers play at Chesapeake Friday in a key Ohio Valley Conference game.

Hunt. St. Joe 12 18 10 24 = 64

South Point 12 17 21 28 = 78

HUNTINGTON ST. JOSEPH (5-3): Josh Pierson 5 1 2-3 15, Chris Collinsworth 0 0 0-0 0, Phil Harris 2 3 2-2 15, Taylor Lockhart 4 1 5-6 16, Paul Dransfeld 0 0 0-0 0, Payne Meadows 1 0 0-0 2, Anthony Rabel 4 0 2-3 10, Nick Turner 0 2 0-0 6, Michael Mays 0 0 0-0 0, Zach Daugherty 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 7 11-14 64. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Collinsworth.

SOUTH POINT (3-4): Tevin Mitchell 4 1 2-3 13, Austin Jeffreys 1 0 0-1 2, Will Hill 0 0 0-0 0, Blake Barnes 6 2 3-5 21, 5 asst 8 reb, Kyle Winkler 4 1 6-6 17, Brandon Barnes 3 4 1-2 19, Zane Huron 1 0 0-0 2, Michael Leighty 1 0 0-2 2. Totals: 21 8 12-19 78. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.