JACKSON — When the game is on the line, Oakie Haynes wants to be on the line.

Haynes was clutch at the foul line as he made 4-of-5 in the fourth quarter to help the Coal Grove Hornets beat the Minford Falcons 48-45 in the Division III sectional tournament semifinals.

Haynes hit both ends of a one-and-one with 44 seconds to play that put the Hornets up 46-41. Matt Slone made a layup with 38 seconds left to get Minford within 46-43, but Wayne Sparks also sank two free throws with just 15 seconds on the clock to seal the win.

Haynes said the pressure didn’t bother him.

“We played at Chesapeake and I missed seven or eight foul shots. I went back to the gym. This is something simple. The next game against River Valley I was 9-for-9 and since then I’ve been comfortable at the line,” said Haynes.

Coal Grove coach Randy Ward wasn’t happy with his team’s play, but they did step up at the right time.

“When we got to the end (of the game) we rebounded and hit free throws. That was the key,” said Ward.

“We were up three and hit our free throws. When you don’t hit free throws you let the other team back in the game. When you hit your free throws you get comfortable and make the other team pay for their fouls.”

Neither team could get their offense in rhythm in the first quarter and it was 8-8.

The Hornets (14-5) were up 23-17 with 1:49 left in the half after two baskets by Devin Monnier.

But a tip-in by Cory McKnight, a put-back by Zach Taylor and a 3-pointer with three seconds on the clock by Mark Slone gave Minford a 24-23 lead.

Minford went up 30-25 midway through the third quarter, but Coal Grove came back to take a 31-30 lead at the end of the third quarter on a 15-footer by Cody Damron, a runner in the lane by Haynes and a layup by Monnier off a pass from Haynes.

Minford (6-14) tied the game at 34 with 5:24 left on a layup by McKnight, but Monnier’s layup and two foul shots by Haynes put the Hornets ahead for good.

“We didn’t play very well. We didn’t get in any rhythm until the last three minutes,” said Ward. “We didn’t play with any intensity. We’ll have to the next game.”

Coal Grove plays second-seeded Ironton at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Monnier scored 17 points to lead the Hornets. Haynes had 14 points and Sparks 10.

Slone scored 19 to pace Minford (6-14).

Minford 8 16 6 15 = 45

Coal Grove 8 15 8 17 = 48

MINFORD (6-14): Cory McKnight 3 0 1-2 7, Ethan Butcher 4 0 0-0 8, Aaron Oesch 1 0 0-0 2, Brett Taylor 3 0 1-2 7, Mark Slone 3 2 7-8 19, Brock Partlow 1 0 0-0 2, Caleb Cowgill 0 0 0-0 0, Duncan Jordan 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-41 9-12 45. 3-point goals: 2-12. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 9 offense, 9 defense = 18 (Slone 4, Butcher 3, Oesch 3). Team rebounds: 5. Assists: 4 (Butcher 2). Steals: 7 (McKnight 2, Taylor 2, Oesch 2). Turnovers: 6.

COAL GROVE (14-5): Oakie Haynes 4 0 6-7 14, Wayne Sparks 1 2 2-2 10, Cody Damron 2 0 0-0 4, Devin Monnier 8 0 1-1 17, Evan Ferguson 1 0 1-2 3, Dion Cunningham 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-38 10-12 48. 3-point goals: 2-11. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 10 offense, 14 defense = 24 (Sparks 10). Team rebounds: 5. Assists: 9 (Haynes 5, Monnier 2). Steals: 3 (Monnier 2). Turnovers: 8.