FORT GAY, W.Va. - The South Point Lady Pointers went into Wednesday night's game winless in three outings and facing the No. 1 ranked Class A team in West Virginia.

They didn't have a chance.

Or did they?

Despite the odds, South Point took the top-ranked Tolsia Lady Rebels to the wire before losing 74-72.

The fast-paced game featured 53 fouls and 83 free throws. South Point sank 22 of 37 foul shots while Tolsia was 24 of 46.

"You're never happy about losing, but we played hard. That's a step in the right direction," South Point coach Dave Adams said.

Jessi Craft poured in 23 points to lead South Point. Summer Malone scored 15 points and Alisha Bridges added 11. Latisha Koukos grabbed nine rebounds.

Danielle Jarrells had 19 points to lead four Tolsia players in double figures. Lauren Banfi and Cassandra Jarrells had 13 each and Nicole Hall scored 11.

Tolsia led 16-15 at the end of the first quarter as Jarrells scored 10 points including a pair of 3-pointers. Craft had 8 points to keep the Lady Pointers close.

Bridges nailed a 3-pointer and scored 5 points in the second quarter, but Hall had 6 for the Lady Rebels who pulled away to a 39-35 halftime lead.

Malone and Craft scored 6 points each in the third quarter as South Point battled back to tie the game at 54-54.

The Lady Pointers took a brief lead late in the game on a 3-pointer by Bridges, but Tolsia was able to convert 8 of 16 from the line in the fourth quarter to escape with the win.

South Point plays next Thursday at Portsmouth.

In the reserve game, the Lady Pointers won 33-31 as Sarah Lee scored 11 points and Melissa Wheeler and Alison Queen 6 each. Bragg had 14 and Robinson 10 for Tolsia.

South Point15201918-72

Tolsia16231520-74

SOUTH POINT (0-4):

Sarah Lee 1 0 0-0 2, Alisha Bridges 1 2 3-5 11, Jessi Craft 6 0 11-14 23, Latisha Koukos 1 0 1-4 3, Elisha Joyce 3 0 0-0 6, Whitney Woody 3 0 3-6 9, Summer Malone 6 0 3-6 15, Jamie Moore 1 0 1-2 3, Amy Frasure 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21

2

22-37

72. Fouls: 29. Fouled out: Koukos.

TOLSIA (1-0):

Nicole Hall 3 0 5-12 11, Lauren Banfi 4 0 5-10 13, Cassandra Jarrells 4 0 5-11 13, Iris Meddings 1 0 1-2 3, Candace Pollinger 2 0 1-2 5, Danielle Jarrells 3 2 7-9 19, Martha Maynard 3 0 0-0 6, Jamie Chapman 2 0 0-0 4, June Thompson 0 0 0-0 0, Ashley Perry 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22

2

24-46

74. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: C. Jarrells.