Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — Rock Hill coach Greg Damron believes the old adage that you play like you practice.

After watching his Redwomen practice the past couple of days, Damron expected his team to play well on Thursday.

They didn’t disappoint.

Rock Hill turned in a strong performance as they beat the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 72-54 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We had great week of practice and we played great team ball. We played really well in the first half,” said Damron whose team led by as many as 25 points in the first half.

“I could tell they were ready to play coming into the game. Coal Grove didn’t quit. They played hard the whole game. I give them a lot of credit.”

Kaci Russell had 25 points, five rebounds and six steals to lead the Redwomen (4-3, 2-3).

Anna Darby posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, Jill Hairston was 4-of-5 from 3-point range and scored 12 points while Samantha Dillon added 11 points.

Kasey Murphy scored 19 points and Emily Compliment had 17 — 15 in the second half — for the Lady Hornets (1-5, 1-4).

Five different players scored in the first quarter as Rock Hill took a 16-8 lead.

Russell had 6 points, Hairston hit a pair of triples and Darby added 5 points as the Redwomen erupted for 25 points in the second quarter to take a 41-21 lead.

Coal Grove cut the deficit to 59-42 although Russell scored 7 points in the third quarter.

But Russell came back to get 8 points in the fourth quarter as the Redwomen got the easy win.

“We have to maintain our intensity when we get a big lead. That’s something we have to learn to handle,” said Damron.

On Monday, Coal Grove plays at Oak Hill and Rock Hill hosts Symmes Valley.

Coal Grove 8 13 21 12 = 54

Rock Hill 16 25 18 13 = 72

COAL GROVE (1-5, 1-4): Bailey McKnight 0 0 0-0 0, Kaylee Beals 1 0 0-0 2, Emily Compliment 6 1 2-2 17, Mattie Malone 1 0 0-0 2, Kasey Murphy 8 0 3-9 19, Destiny Dolen 1 0 3-6 5, Lauren Crum 0 2 0-0 6, Amaya Waulk 0 0 3-5 3. Totals: 20 1 11-22 54. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Crum.

ROCK HILL (4-3, 2-3): Kelsey Olderham 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Hall 2 1 0-0 7, Anna Darby 7 0 3-9 17, Samantha Stamper 0 0 0-0 0, Caitlyn Meadows 0 0 0- 0, Samantha Dillon 2 1 4-6 11, Abbi Kline 0 0 0-0 0, Noel 0 0 0-0 0, Jill Hairston 0 4 0-0 12, Kaci Russell 11 0 3-6 25. Totals: 22 6 10-21 72. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.