Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — The Coal Grove Hornets made the right plays at the right time.

The Hornets got some clutch scoring in the fourth quarter and pulled away from the Symmes Valley Vikings 53-44 on Saturday.

Alex Bare and Sean Paulus scored 16 points each and Conor Markins had 13 points to lead the Hornets (11-3).

Dylan Malone had 14 points to lead a balanced offense for the Vikings (8-5).

Paulus scored 10 points including a pair of 3-point goals as Coal Grove took an 18-10 lead.

The Vikings came back to get within 29-26 at the half by outscoring the Hornets 16-11 in the second quarter. Markins had 8 points in the quarter for Coal Grove.

Coal Grove was up 38-34 at the end of the third quarter, but the Vikings rallied to take a 42-40 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

The Vikings chances took a hit when starter Austin Baldwin suffered an ankle injury midway through the fourth quarter and did not return.

Alex Bare hit a driving layup to tie the game 42-42 with three minutes left. Bare then stole the ball and went the length of the floor to put the Hornets up 44-42 with 2:40 to play.

Markins was fouled on an offensive rebound and hit the first of two free throws with 1:46 left and Bare’s layup at the 1:18 mark extended the lead to 48-44.

Coal Grove got the ball back and fed Isaiah Gunther inside for a layup off an inbounds pass to extend the lead to six and just 30 seconds to go.

Brandon Adkins was fouled with 11 seconds on the clock and hit both free throws to seal the victory.

Coal Grove 18 11 9 15 = 53

Sym. Valley 10 16 8 10 = 44

COAL GROVE (12-3): Trevor Barrett 0 0 0-0 0, Alex Bare 2 4 0-0 16, Sean Paulus 2 4 0-0 16, Brandon Adkins 1 0 2-6 4, Isaiah Gunther 1 0 0-0 2, Conor Markins 3 1 4-6 13, Joe Akers 0 0 0-0 0, Austin “Red” Pleasants 0 0 2-4 2. Totals: 12 7 8-16 53.

SYMMES VALLEY (8-5): Alec Herrell 1 0 1-3 3, D.J. Miller 1 1 1-2 6, Austin Baldwin 3 1 0-0 9, Clayton Toney 1 0 2-2 4, Dylan Malone 5 0 4-4 14, Tyler Rowe 3 0 2-6 8. Totals: 14 2 10-17 44.