Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — Houdini would have had trouble matching the disappearing act of the Coal Grove Hornets offense in the fourth quarter.
Trailing by just five points, Coal Grove scored only two points in the fourth quarter in a 58-40 loss to the Gallipolis Blue Devils in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.
Gallipolis outscored the Hornets 15-2 in the fourth quarter as Peck had five points and the Blue Devils converted 6-of-9 from the foul line. Blaire Carter and Cory Call each went 2-of-2 at the line.
The Hornets did not make a field goal in the fourth quarter and were just 2-of-5 from the foul line.
Gallipolis (13-6, 9-4) led 12-11 at the end of the first quarter as Evan Wiseman and Justin Peck combined for nine points. Five different players scored for Coal Grove including Alijah Roman who hit a 3-pointer.
Four different players scored four points in the second quarter as Gallipolis outscored Coal Grove 21-12 and it was 33-23 at the half. Jaylen McKenzie scored five points in the quarter for the Hornets.
Coal Grove rallied in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 43-38 as Mark Sites scored eight points including a four-point play.
But then came the disastrous fourth quarter for the Hornets.
Sites scored 12 points and Jeb Jones nine points to lead Coal Grove (8-13, 4-9).
Peck had 15 points while Zach Lovejoy and Wiseman scored 10 each to pace Gallipolis.
On Friday, Coal Grove hosts Ironton and Gallipolis entertains Portsmouth.
Gallipolis    12    21    10    15    =    58
Coal Grove    11    12    15    2    =    40
GALLIPOLIS (13-6, 9-4): Miles Cornwell 1 0 0-0 2, Evan Wiseman 3 1 1-2 10, Kaden Thomas 1 0 2-2 4, Blaire Carter 1 0 3-4 5, Dondre Armstrong 0 1 0-0 3, Cory Call 2 0 2-2 6, Gage Harrison 0 1 0-0 3, Justin Peck 7 0 1-3 15, Zach Loveday 5 0 0-1 10. Totals: 20 3 9-14 58. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.
COAL GROVE (8-13, 4-9): Aaron Music 2 0 1-2 5, Cory Borders 0 1 0-0 3, Jordan Case 1 0 0-1 2, Nathan Harmon 0 0 1-2 1, Mark Sites 4 1 1-2 12, Joey Workman 0 0 0-0 0, Jaylen McKenzie 2 0 1-1 5, Jeb Jones 3 0 3-4 9, Cole Gannon 0 0 0-0 0, Alijah Roman 0 1 0-0 3, Damon Jiles 0 0 0-0 0, Trey Hicks 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 3 7-11 40. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Jones.