Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — It was supposed to be the South Point Pointers vs. the Wheelersburg Pirates. It seemed more like Austin Webb vs. J.J. Truitt.
The Pointers’ 6-3 junior center Webb had 27 points and 8 rebounds while the 6-2 junior Truitt scored 24 points as the Pirates edged the Pointers 58-56 on Saturday.
Webb hit five 3-pointers among his total while Truitt was 9-of-13 at the foul line.
The Pointers took a 12-6 first quarter lead as Webb scored 7 points.
But South Point (2-3) managed just 8 points in the second quarter and Truitt scored 7 points to rally the Pirates to a 24-20 halftime lead.
Webb hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points and Brody Blackwell added a trey as South Point came back to take a 40-38 lead.
The Pointers held the lead until the Pirates tied the game at the 2:23 mark. Truitt scored 8 points — he was 4-of-5 at the line — and Kenny Sanderlin scored 6 points as the Pirates took a 58-56 lead.
Webb drove with five seconds but his shot hit off the rim and bounced away at the buzzer.
Chance Gunther had a big quarter for the Pointers with 9 points. He finished the game with 17.
Sanderlin had 13 points for the Pirates (6-0).
South Point goes to South Webster on Saturday.
Wheelersburg 6 18 14 20 = 58
South Point 12 8 20 16 = 56
WHEELERSBURG (6-0): Aaron Jolly 1 0 0-1 2, Matt Miller 2 0 1-1 5, Eli Swords 0 0 0-0 0, Aaron Masters 1 1 0-0 5, Carter McCorkle 2 0 0-2 4, J.J. Truitt 6 1 9-13 24, Gage Adkins 2 0 0-1 4, Corey Maxie 0 0 0-0 0, Kenny Sanderlin 5 0 3-5 13. Totals: 19 2 13-23 58. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: McCorkle.
SOUTH POINT (2-3): Jake Adams 0 0 0-0 0, Chance Gunther 4 1 6-9 17, Nakyan Turner 0 0 2-4 2, Mason Kazee 3 0 1-4 7, Darryl Taylor 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Webb 5 5 2-8 27, Kyle Badgett 0 0 0-0 0, Brody Blackwell 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 19-44 11-25 56. 3-pt goals: 7-15. Rebounds: 23 (Webb 8, Blackwell 4). Assists: 3 (Webb 2). Steals: 4 (Turner 2). Turnovers: 6. Fouls: 23. Fouled out: None.