Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — It was Music to the Coal Grove Hornets’ ears.
String music.
Aaron Music hit a basket at the buzzer as the Coal Grove Hornets stunned the Portsmouth Trojans 57-55 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Tuesday.
Cory Borders — who hit a 3-pointer to give the Hornets their first lead since the start of the game — took a shot with time running out but the ball went in and out. Music got the rebound and hit a turnaround jumper from 12 feet out.
“Borders shot did everything but go it. I thought it was down,” said Hornets’ coach Kevin Vanderhoof. “But it came out and Music grabbed it and hit nothing but net.”
Sam Angelo had 15 points and four rebounds to lead the Hornets (2-0, 1-0). Music finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.
Jeb Jones added nine points and five rebounds with Jordan Case and Borders scoring eight each.
D.J. Eley had 15 points, Gabe Gambill 11 and Matthew Fraulini 10 for the Trojans (3-1, 0-1).
Coal Grove was outrebounded 28-26 but the Hornets had 17 offensive boards and scored 22 second-chance points. They had 38 points in the paint while Portsmouth had 30 points in the paint.
“Coach (Dave) Schug gave us a good scouting report and we executed the game plan. We were able to eliminate their transition plans. We were really locked in,” said Hornets’ coach Kevin Vanderhoof.
“Our kids are coming around. It’s our second game and Portsmouth has been scoring 85 a game and we wanted to hold them under 60. Our kids grind it out,” said Vanderhoof.
Portsmouth led 14-12 after the first quarter and 30-23 at the half. Payton Smith scored five points in the quarter to keep the Hornets close.
Angelo scored eight points while Case and Jones got four each in the third quarter as Coal Grove got within 45-41.
Music scored 10 points in the fourth quarter including the game-winner as Coal Grove outscored the Trojans 16-10.
“We played pretty good. Our energy level was high. We just kept battling. We got down 10 in the first half and nine or 10 in the second half. We played nine guys and everyone contributed in their own way. It was a good team win,” said Vanderhoof.
On Friday, Coal Grove hosts Fairland and Portsmouth visits South Point.
Coal Grove    12    11    18    16    =    57
Portsmouth    14    16    15    10    =    55
COAL GROVE (2-0, 1-0): Aaron Music 6 0 0-0 12, Cory Borders 1 2 0-0 8, Jordan Case 4 0 0-1 8, Jeb Jones 3 0 3-4 9, Payton Smith 1 1 0-0 5, Sam Angelo 4 1 4-6 15. Totals 24-55 7-11 57. 3-pt goals: 5-16. Rebounds: 17-O, 9-D = 26 (Music 7, Jones 5, Angelo 4). Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.
PORTSMOUTH (3-1, 0-1): D.J. Eley 3 2 3-4 15, Matthew Fraulini 2 2 0-0 10, Gabe Gambill 4 0 3-4 11, Reese Johnson 4 0 0-0 8, Daniel Jordan 3 0 0-0 6, Isaac Kelly 2 0 1-1 5. Totals: 22-41 7-10 55. 3-pt goals: 4-14. Rebounds: 28. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.