Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — There is one four-letter word the Coal Grove Hornets don’t mind repeating: team.

The Hornets put together another team effort on both ends of the floor as they beat the Russell Red Devils 61-43 Tuesday.

Conor Markins scored 21 points to lead seven different players in the scoring column for the Hornets (11-6). Brandon Adkins had 11 points.

Ethan Raby scored 15 and Zach Tackett 11 for Russell (5-17).

Markins got the Hornets off to a fast start. He scored 10 points as Coal Grove went on top 21-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Adkins scored five points and Sean Paulus hit a 3-pointer as Coal Grove extended the lead to 33-25 at the half.

Six different Hornets scored in the third quarter — Joe Akers and Markins had five each — and the defense held Russell to nine points as the lead grew to 52-34.

Raby scored seven of the Red Devils’ points in the quarter.

Four Hornets had baskets in the fourth quarter including a triple by Jonathan Joseph as each team scored nine points.

Coal Grove plays a key makeup game at Chesapeake Wednesday.

Russell 14 11 9 9 = 43

Coal Grove 21 12 19 9 = 61

RUSSELL (5-17): Heath Hensley 0 0 0-0 0, Silas Cox 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Martin 1 1 3-4 8, Pavin Downs 0 0 0-0 0, Blake Campbell 0 0 0-0 0, Zach Tackett 5 1-5 11, Ethan Raby 3 3 0-0 15, Jacob McKee 0 0 0-0 0, Landon Brewer 0 0 0-0 0, Antoine Sims 0 0 0-0 0, Johnny McGuire 2 0 2-2 6, Cody Bennett 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 12 4 6-11 43. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

COAL GROVE (11-6): Travis Carey 0 0 0-0 0, Jonathan Joseph 0 1 0-0 3, Sean Paulus 2 1 0-2 7, Isaiah Gunther 0 0 0-0 0, Brandon Adkins 5 0 1-2 11, D.J. Miller 1 2 0-0 8, Joe Akers 2 0 1-1 5, Conor Markins 8 0 5-8 21, Austen Pleasants 3 0 0-2 6, Jacob Pierce 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 4 7-15 61. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.