Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — Maybe Coal Grove Lady Hornets coach Rick Roach should tell his players the league added some new teams instead of telling them it’s a non-league game.
The Lady Hornets went into Monday’s game 14-6 with five losses coming in non-league games. And until the fourth quarter, the Lady Hornets were trailing the Greenup County Lady Musketeers.
But sparked by the defense and scoring of Addi Dillow and Abbey Hicks, the Lady Hornets rallied for a 60-54 win over Greenup County.
“Our non-conference has been rough on us this year,” said Roach. “Greenup was able to knock down some shots in the first half and build a lead of nine at halftime. We couldn’t throw it in the ocean if we were standing on the beach in the first half.”
Taylor Gammon hit a pair of 3-pointers, Lexie Carroll had 5 points with a 3-pointer and Lauren Hannah scored 4 points as Greenup County took a 17-8 lead.
Dillow had half of Coal Grove’s points.
Each team scored 9 points in the second quarter and it was 26-17 at the half.
Dillow sank a 3-pointer and got 7 points with Rylee Harmon making two foul shots for Coal Grove while Rachel Bush hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points for the Lady Musketeers who were 4-of-6 at the foul line.
Coal Grove began its comeback in the third quarter as Dillow scored 8 points and Hicks made a 3-pointer and scored 7 points. Six different players scored for Greenup and the lead was sliced to 41-39.
“At halftime, I challenged the entire team. I told them that I needed someone to step up and be a leader,” said Roach. “We came out the second half and applied pressure to their guards which created some steals and turnovers.”
In the fourth quarter, Dillow had a 3-pointer and scored 11 points while Hicks hit a 3-pointer and 6 points.
Carroll had 6 points and Greenup was 5-of-8 at the line.
Dillow finished with a game-high 30 points and Hicks had 15 points as Coal Grove shot just 24-of-76 from the field for 35.6 percent.
Greenup County (5-18) was led by Carrol with 14 while Gammon and Bush scored 11 points each.
“They had multiple kids that are able to score, and being in foul trouble caused some matchup issues for us,” said Roach.
UP NEXT: Coal Grove host Portsmouth on Thursday.
Greenup Co. 17 9 15 13 = 54
Coal Grove 8 9 22 21 = 60
GREENUP COUNTY (5-18): Lexie Carroll 5 1 1-2 14, Lauren Hannah 3 0 3-6 9, Emma Frazier 1 1 2-2 7, Taylor Gammon 1 2 3-6 11, Rachel Bush 3 1 2-2 11, Emily Maynard 0 0 0-0 0, Ellee Hunt 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 19-59 11-18 54. 3-pt goals: 5. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
COAL GROVE (15-6): Ellie Holmes 2 0 0-0 4, Addi Dillow 11 2 2-2 30, Caitlin Dillon 0 0 0-0 0, Kaleigh Murphy 2 0 0-0 4, Abbey Hicks 4 2 1-2 15, Rylee Harmon 0 0 3-4 3, Jaidyn Griffith 1 0 2-2 4. Totals: 24-76 8-10 60. 3-pt goals: 4. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.