By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — The Coal Grove Hornets used an “O.K.” performance to win their first game.

It was “O” as in Owen Johnson and “K” as in Karson Frecka who combined for 38 points as Coal Grove won a 54-53 overtime thriller over the Raceland Rams on Wednesday.

In overtime, Gavin Gipson scored to put the Hornets up 51-49. Christian Large scored for the Rams to tie the game. After. Free throw by Johnson, the Rams’ Connor Thacker scored to make it 53-52. He was fouled but missed the bonus and Frecka got the rebound.

The Hornets set up the final play and Johnson was fouled. He promptly sank both free throws to put the Hornets up 54-53 with 14 seconds left.

Raceland missed a shot and Coal Grove got the rebound. A foul put the Hornets at the line but they missed both free throws. The Rams got the rebound but a desperation shot failed to connect.

Thacker and Large scored 7 points each including a 3-pointer in the first quarter as Raceland took a 17-15 lead.

Johnson scored 6 points and Kody Harmon hit a 3-pointer as he scored all 5 of his points for Coal Grove.

The Hornets rallied to take a 25-24 halftime lead as Rylan Smith drilled a triple and scored 5 points. Large hit a trey for the Rams.

Raceland (6-6) came out of the locker room and took a 39-35 lead in the third quarter  as Thacker and Large each hit 3-pointers and scored 5 points.

Johnson scored 6 of Coal Grove’s 10 points in the quarter.

The Hornets rallied to tie the game in the fourth quarter and force the overtime.

Frecka scored 10 of the Hornets’ 14 points including 4-of-5 at the foul line. Johnson added 4 points and was 2-of-4 at the line.

The Rams were 4-of-6 from the foul line and had just 3 field goals in the fourth quarter.

Johnson finished with 21 points and Frecka scored 17 to lead the Hornets.

Large had 21 points and Thacker 17 for the Rams.

Raceland  17 7 15 10 4 = 53

Coal Grove 15 10 10 14 5 = 54

RACELAND (6-6): Connor Thacker 5 2 1-3 17, Holden Topping 2 0 1-1 5, Christian Large 5 3 2-2 21, Jonah Arnett 1 0 1-2 3, Conner Sutton 1 0 1-2 3, Jacob Waller 0 0 0-0 0, Parker Ison 0 0 0-0 0, Charles Welch 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 16 5 6-10 53. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Sutton.

COAL GROVE (1-8): Rylan Smith 3 1 0-0 9, Nick Abrams 0 0 0-0 0, Kody Harmon 1 1 0-0 5, Owen Johnson 8 0 5-8 21, Gavin Gipson 1 0 0-0 2, Karson Frecka 6 0 4-8 17, Sam Large 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 2 9-16 54. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.