Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — If this were medieval times and Coach Grove Hornets’ coach Kevin Vanderhoof was a king, he’d have plenty of executioners at his disposal.
The Hornets were a different type of executioners on Tuesday as they stunned the Gallipolis Blue Devils 61-41 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
“This team always plays hard, but they executed tonight. That’s big for us moving forward,” said Vanderhoof.
“We hit clutch shots when we needed. They’d get it cut to nine and we’d hit a shot. Alijah Roman hit a couple of big shots for us. And they started fouling and we hit our free throws. We rebounded really well.”
Coal Grove (10-4, 6-3) avenged an earlier 59-37 loss at Gallipolis as Sam Angelo scored 14 points while Cory Borders and Aaron Music had 11 points each. Alijah Roman came off the bench to score eight points.
A key for the Hornets was converted 17-of-25 free throws including 12-of-17 in the fourth quarter when the Blue Devils were forced to foul.
Gallipolis (13-2, 7-2) came into the game ranked 12th in the Associated Press Division II poll. The Blue Devils only loss was to Fairland.
Cory Call scored 17 points and 7-foot-1 Zach Loveday 12 points — just two in the first half — to lead Gallipolis.
Borders hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter as Coal Grove took a 10-6 lead. Call had all of Gallipolis’ points.
Five different players scored in the second quarter as Coal Grove went up 20-12 at the half. Call had four points and Loveday added a basket for the Blue Devils.
Each team scored 12 points in the third quarter and it was 32-24.
Angelo hit a 3-pointer and scored five points while Music scored four points including two foul shots.
Justin McClelland, Call and Loveday all had four points each for Gallipolis.
Roman scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter including a clutch 3-pointer and he was 3-of-3 at the foul line.
Borders also hit a 3-pointer and scored five points while Angelo and Music each went 3-of-4 at the foul line.
On Friday, Coal Grove hosts Rock Hill and Gallipolis entertains South Point.
Gallipolis    6    6    12    17    =    41
Coal Grove    10    10    12    29    =    61
GALLIPOLIS (13-2, 7-2): Gage Harrison 0 0 0-0 0, Kaden Thomas 0 0 0-0 0, Evan Wilson 0 0 0-0 0, Cory Call 8 0 1-1 17, Justin McClelland 1 1 2-2 7, Zach Loveday 5 0 2-3 12, Blaine Carter 1 0 0-0 2, Bailey Walker 0 1 0-0 3, Caleb Henry 0 0 0-2 0, Cole Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Logan Blour 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 2 5-8 41. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.
COAL GROVE (10-4, 6-3): Aaron Music 2 0 7-8 11, Cory Borders 1 3 0-0 11, Jordan Case 0 0 2-2 2, Jeb Jones 3 0 1-1 7, Nate Harmon 1 0 0-0 2, Justin Hicks 0 0 1-2 1, Jalen McKenzie 1 0 0-0 2, Sam Angelo 4 1 3-5 14, Evan Gannon 0 0 0-0 0, Alijah Roman 1 1 3-3 8, Damian Giles 0 1 0-0 3, Dakota Byrne 0 0 0-2 0. Totals; 13 6 17-25 61. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.