Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — The Coal Grove Lady Hornets got into some trouble on Saturday, and they got themselves out of trouble.

With starters Kasey Murphhy and Lauren Crum going to the bench with foul trouble, Bailey McKnight, Amaya Waulk and Mattie Malone came to the rescue as the Lady Hornets beat the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings 64-48.

“It was good to get a win,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Rick Roach. “We got in some early foul trouble with Murphy and Crum. McKnight and Waulk and Malone did a great job to come in and keep us in the game.”

Both teams had foul trouble but the Lady Hornets were able to cash in at the foul line. They made 24-of-36 attempts while the Lady Vikings made just 20-of-23.

Coal Grove hit 19-of-55 field attempts for 35 percent. Symmes Valley also made 19 shots but attempted 78 for a shooting percentage of a mere 24.

“We were able to get to the line and shoot free throws pretty well early in the game. (Meranda) Hayes and (Kaitlyn) Payne did a great job keeping it close and allowed them to stay in the game,” said Roach.

Emily Compliment scored 20 points and Destiny Dolen scored 19 to lead Coal Grove (2-6). Murphy added 14 points to the winning effort.

Payne scored 14 points and Hayes added 8 to pace the Lady Vikings (7-7).

“Compliment scored her points but the game Dolen played defensively created a lot of advantages for her to score,” said Roach.

Coal Grove held a slim 15-14 first quarter lead as Dolen scored 7 points and Compliment had 5. Breanna Brumfield scored 5 of her 7 points and Hayes had 6 points for the Lady Vikings.

The Lady Hornets converted 8-of-12 free throw attempts in the second quarter with Compliment and Dolen scoring 6 points each as they took a 33-28 halftime lead.

Payton Walsh and Payne scored 4 points each for the Lady Vikings.

Murphy returned to the lineup in the second half and scored 8 points while Compliment had 6 points to help Coal Grove open up a 55-41 lead. Payne had 8 points in the quarter.

Both teams had trouble shooting in the fourth quarter. Coal Grove was 5-of-11 at the foul line and Symmes Valley was just 3-of-19 from the field.

On Monday, Coal Grove is at South Point while Symmes Valley hosts Beaver Eastern.

Coal Grove 15 18 22 9 = 64

Sym. Valley 14 14 13 7 = 48

COAL GROVE (3-9): Kaylee Beals 0 1 2-2 5, Emily Compliment 5 0 10-14 20, Kasey Murphy 4 0 6-8 14, Destiny Dolen 7 0 5-7 19, Lauren Crum 1 0 1-3 3, Bailey McKnight 1 0 0-2 2, Mattie Malone 0 0 0-0 0, Amaya Waulk 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-55 24-36 64. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (7-7): Sierra Ross 0 0 0-3 0, Breanna Brumfield 3 0 1-2 7, Jensyn Shepherd 3 0 1-3 7, Meranda Hayes 4 0 0-1 8, Kaitlyn Payne 3 0 8-14 14, Caitlyn Crabtree 1 0 0-0 2, Ericca Ross 0 0 0-0 0, Kassie Baldwin 2 0 0-0 4, Payton Walsh 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 19-78 10-23 48. Fouls: 26. Fouled out: Brumfield, S. Ross.