By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

BIDWELL — There wasn’t any heater that could get the South Point Pointers’ offense warmed up.

The Pointers got off to a cold start the first quarter and never recovered as they lost 61-59 to the River Valley Raiders Tuesday in the first Ohio Valley Conference game of the season for both teams.

“It seems like every time we play here we have trouble shooting the ball. The basket always seems to have a lid on it,” said Pointers’ coach Chris Barnes. “But give River Valley credit. They played well and they hit some clutch shots at the end.”

Blake Barnes led all scorers with 26 points. Kyle Winkler scored 14 points and Brandon Barnes added 11.

Dominique Peck scored 20 points to pace River Valley (3-3, 1-0) and Aaron Harrison had 15.

South Point didn’t score until the 2:28 mark of the first quarter and finished with just five points to trail 11-5. Blake Barnes did all the South Point’s scoring in the quarter.

After trailing 16-7 early in the second quarter, Kyle Winkler had eight points as South Point got within 26-25 at the break.

But the Raiders used an 11-0 run in the third quarter to take a 41-35 lead.

River Valley led by as many as 10 points twice in the fourth quarter, but Blake Barnes had 14 points as he tried to rally Pointers who got within 61-59 with 1.9 seconds to play.

The Raiders then inbounded the ball and were able to let the clock run out.

One difference in the game was River Valley’s 5 of 13 foul shooting compared to just one foul shot for the Pointers.

South Point 5 20 10 24 = 59

River Valley 11 15 15 20 = 61

SOUTH POINT (1-3, 0-1): Tevin Mitchell 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Jeffreys 1 0 0-0 2, Will Hill 2 0 0-0 4, Blake Barnes 8 3 1-1 26, Kyle Winkler 4 2 0-0 14, Brandon Barnes 1 3 0-0 11, Zane Huron 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 8 1-1 59. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 21 (Mitchell 5, Bl. Barnes 4, Huron 4, Winkler 4). Assists: 7 (Bl. Barnes 2, Mitchell 2, Winkler 2). Steals: 7 (Bl. Barnes 3, Mitchell 2). Turnovers: 9.

RIVER VALLEY (3-3, 1-0): Trey Noble 2 0 3-4 7, Aaron Harrison 7 0 1-3 15, Kyle Bryant 1 1 0-0 5, Austin Lewis 3 0 0-2 6, Dominique Peck 10 0 0-4 20, Derek Flint 1 0 0-0 2, Cody Smith 1 1 1-2 6. Totals: 25 2 5-13 61. Fouls: 6. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 32 (Smtih 12, Peck 7). Assists: 9 (Noble 3, Peck 3, Smith 3). Steals: 7 (Harrison 3, Peck 2). Turnovers: 15.