JACKSON — The Rock Hill Redmen needed some time off, but not like this.

The snowy weather that postponed games last month forced the Redmen to play an NBA-like schedule with four games.

All those games left the Redmen scrambling to get ready for their Division III sectional tournament game Tuesday against the heavily-favored Wheelersburg Pirates.

Despite the need for rest and preparation time, Rock Hill gave a valiant effort before falling 53-38 to the Pirates.

“We had three days rest and to practice and if we make a couple of shots, who knows what might have happened,” said Rock Hill coach Adam Simpson.

“We had the tempo in our favor and we got the lead down to nine and we had the ball.

The Pirates led by as many as 14 points, but they couldn’t shake the Redmen. A baseline jumper by Nick Kemper put the Pirates up 43-29 early in the fourth quarter, but a layup by Jeremy Blagg and a foul shot by Sam Cooke cut the deficit to 47-38 with 2:52 to play.

Kemper then made two straight layups and it was 51-38 with 1:40 to play and secure the outcome.

Cooke gave the Pirates fits as the 6-foot-9 junior center scored 18 points. Dustin Chandler added 11 points including three 3-pointers, but Rock Hill sorely missed Brandon Klaiber who suffered a broken foot in their final game last Friday and did not dress for the tournament.

“I’m pleased. I’m proud of their effort. Our leading scorer and rebounder was not playing. We had every reason to lay down and we gave it everything we had,” said Simpson.

Kemper scored 15 points and Andy Stegman had 14 points for Wheelersburg (16-5) who plays Fairland at 5 p.m. Saturday in the sectional finals.

Wheelersburg had an 18-6 lead in the first quarter after a 3-pointer by Tyler Lang. Cooke, who scored eight points in the first quarter, made a layup to get Rock Hill within 18-8.

A layup by Luke Simpson and foul shot by Blagg cut the Pirates’ lead to 26-19 with 1:07 left in the half. Tyler Craigmiles hit a layup and Cole Miller nailed a 15-footer and it was 30-19 at the half.

Rock Hill got within 10 points in the third quarter, but Shane Ward hit a triple with 2:11 on the clock and the Pirates were up 41-27 at the end of the quarter.

Rock Hill 8 11 8 11 = 38

Wheelersburg 18 12 11 12 = 53

ROCK HILL (5-16): Jeremy Blagg 2 0 1-2 5, Luke Simpson 1 0 2-4 4, Dustin Chandler 1 3 0-0 11, Sam Cooke 8 0 2-3 18, Ryan Albright 0 0 0-0 0, Herbie Butterbaugh 0 0 0-0 0, Adam Fradd 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-38 5-9 38. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 3-10. Rebounds: 8-off, 18 def. = 26 ( Chandler 6, Cooke 6, Simpson 4). Team/deadball rebounds: 2. Assists: 10 (Blagg 5, Cooke 4). Steals: 4 (Blagg, Chandler, Albright, Simpson 1 each). Turnovers: 14. Blocked shots: 5 (Cooke 4, Chandler 1).

WHEELERSBURG (16-5): Brandon Schankweiler 3 0 0-0 6, Cole Miller 1 0 0-0 2, Nick Kemper 7 0 1-2 15, Shane Ward 1 1 1-2 6, Andy Stegman 6 0 2-4 14, Zaide Whitley 0 1 0-0 3, Tyler Craigmiles 1 0 2-2 4, Tyler Lang 0 1 0-0 3, Isaac Duduit 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-45 6-11 53. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 3-10. Rebounds: 8 off., 15 def. = 23 (Stegman 4, Craigmiles 4). Team/deadball rebounds: 7. Assists: 9 (Kemper 3, Ward 3). Steals: 11 (Stegman 4, Schankweiler 2, Kemper 2). Turnovers: 5.