COAL GROVE — Cam Chaffins scored a game-high 18 points, Owen Johnson finished 17, and the Coal Grove Hornets controlled the second half en route to a 64-53 win over the Gallia Academy Blue Devils on Thursday night in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Chaffins did most of his damage from a far, hitting two 3-point goals and sinking 8 of his 10 foul shots. Johnson hit 9 shots from the field and recorded a game-high 8 rebounds as the Hornets out-rebounded the Blue Devils 26-22.

Kody Harmon finished with 7 points. Rylan Smith added 6 points and 6 rebounds. Brothers Braydon and Bradely Klaiber each chipped in 5 points each.

Johnson led the Hornets in scoring with 7 points during the first period, including the game’s first 3-pointer from the top of the key after a handoff from teammate Bradley Klaiber to make it 14-12 at the 1:08 mark of the period.

Kody Harmon later created his own scoring play on a steal, drive, and layup to give the Hornets an 18-14 lead.

But a jumper from Gallia’s Rees Toler from the baseline on the following possession made it 18-16 after one.

The Hornets (2-2, 1-1 OVC) found themselves in foul trouble in the second, and the Blue Devils were able to take advantage of it and take the lead.

Grant Owens came off the bench and scored 7 points in the period for Gallia. Toler buried a 3-pointer to open up a 5-point lead for the Blue Devils near the midway point of the period.

Later Cade Mock scooped up a loose ball near mid-court and took it in for a 2-handed jam to give the Blue Devils (0-3, 0-1) its biggest lead at 30-24 with 2:56 remaining before halftime.

The Hornets closed out the half on a 5-0 run, as Cam Chaffins hit a jumper from the foul line and then added a free throw on the following possession. Jake Brammer sank two free throws to close the gap, giving the Blue Devils a 32-31 lead at the break.

The Blue Devils opened up the second half with a 10-4 run to expand their lead to 42-35 with 3:13 left after Ty Reed’s layup off an outlet pass from Mock.

But the Hornets closed out the third with a 10-0 run to take their first lead since the beginning of the second period.

During the scoring run, Johnson got things kick-started when he grabbed a loose ball in the air and took it coast-to-coast for a layup. Then Chaffins buried back-to-back shots from behind the arc and followed that up with 2 free throws to close out the quarter.

An old-fashioned 3-point play by Bradley Klaiber kept things going for the Hornets to begin the final period and give Coal Grove a 48-44 lead.

A layup from Gabe Hammons on the other end finally halted the scoring run and cut the deficit to four.

The Hornet pushed their lead back out to six after another layup from Bradley Klaiber at the 3:56 mark.

But consecutive baskets by Mock — including another dunk on a runout — pulled the Blue Devils to within two.

But much like the third, the Hornets closed out the final period on an 11-2 run to seal the win.

Chaffins first hit a runner on the baseline. Then Johnson followed with a bucket. Then the Hornets sank 7 of their final 8 shots from the foul line to close out the game.

Gallia Academy was led by Mock, who finished with 16 points, 7 boards, and 5 blocked shots. Owens and Reed each scored 11 points, and Hammons added 8.

Gallia Acad. 16 16 10 11 = 53

Coal Grove 18 13 14 19 = 64

GALLIA ACADEMY (0-3, 0-1): Ty Reed 4 1 2-4 11, Ethan Rose 1 0 0-2 2, Rees Toler 2 1 0-0 5, Gabe Hammons 4 0 0-0 8, Cade Mock 8 0 0-5 16, Josh Watts 0 0 0-0 00, Grant Owens 3 1 4-4 11, Macen Meadows 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 3 6-15 53. Rebounds: (8-O, 14-D) 22 (Mock 7, Reed 6, Hammons 4). Assists: 9 (Reed 4, Toler 2). Fouls: 28. Fouled out: Rose (4th, 0:15).

COAL GROVE (2-2, 1-1): Rylan Smith 1 0 4-4 5, Braydon Klaiber 2 0 1-1 5, Bradley Klaiber 2 0 1-1 5, Kody Harmon 2 0 3-5 7, Owen Johnson 9 1 0-3 17, Cam Chaffins 5 2 8-10 18, Jake Brammer 0 0 2-2 2. Rebounds: (8-O, 14-D) 26 (Johnson 8, Brad. Klaiber 7, Smith 6). Assists: 9 (Brad. Klaiber 4, Johnson 2, Harmon 2). Totals: 21 3 19-26 64. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.