CHESHIRE — Winning the Ohio Valley Conference title was so nice, the Coal Grove Lady Hornets decided to do it twice.

For the second straight season, the Lady Hornets have won the OVC basketball championship after routing the River Valley Lady Raiders 67-48 Thursday.

Coal Grove is now 8-1 to clinch at least a share of the title. South Point is second at 6-2.

It also marks the first time in Coal Grove basketball history — boys or girls — that a team has won back-to-back championships.

“It was a nice accomplishment for our girls. They’ve worked hard toward this goal,” Lady Hornets coach Nick Miller said. “Now we just want to win our last league game and try to win it outright.”

Chelsea Markins scored 25 points to lead the Lady Hornets (13-4). Samantha Hall had 19 points.

Hall scored 11 points in the first quarter as Coal Grove raced to a 20-9 lead.

The cushion grew to 32-16 at the break but the Lady Hornets got into some foul trouble as the offense slowed down.

Rachle Walburn and Iliana Corfias scored 5 points each in the third quarter as River Valley took advantage of the foul trouble to get within 45-32.

“We got in a little foul trouble and we had to juggle our big girls,” Miller said.

But Markins pumped in 12 points including three trifectas in the fourth quarter as the Lady Hornets cruised to the win.

Coal Grove will host Wheelersburg at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Coal Grove20121319=67

River Valley971616=48

COAL GROVE (13-4, 8-1):

Tiffany Wallace 0 0 0-0 0, Abby Nance 0 0 0-0 0, Kelli Grove 0 0 0-0 0, Samantha Zornes 0 0 0-0 0, Ashley Thacker 0, Keesha Wyatt 0 0 0-2 0, Brittany Harrison 2 0 2-2 6, Danielle Carpenter 0 0 1-2 1, Jordyn Cox 0 2 2-4 8, Chelsea Delong 2 1 1-3 8, Chelsea Markins 3 5 4-9 25, Samantha Hall 9 0 1-1 19. Totals: 16

8

11-23

67. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.

RIVER VALLEY (1-15, 0-8): Amanda Hager 1 0 0-1 2, Rachel Walburn 4 0 2-4 10, Courtney Circle 0 1 0-0 3, L. Comer 0 0 0-0 0, Kristen Carter 30 0-0 6, Kayla Smith 2 0 0-0 4, McKenzie Cluxton 2 0 2-4 6, Brooke Taylor 0 0 1-2 1, Iliana Corfias 2 1 4-6 11, Ashley Fitch 0 0 0-0 0, Margo Fraley 1 0 3-4 5. Totals: 15

2

12-21

48. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Taylor.

RESERVES: Coal Grove 27, River Valley 26. Coal Grove leading scorers: Ashley Thacker 8, Abby Nance 6.