Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHEROKEE, N.C. — The Coal Grove Hornets not only traveled a long distance, they shot from long distance.
Playing in the Cherokee Holidays on the Hardwood Christmas Classic, the Hornets made seven 3-point goals en route to a 76-54 win over the Palmetto Christian (S.C.) Eagles on Wednesday.
“That was the best ball we’ve played since I’ve been coaching here,” said Hornets’ coach Kevin Vanderhoof.
“We moved the ball, shared the ball, shot the ball real well.”
Cory Borders did most of the damage from beyond the arc as he hit five 3-pointers and scored 15 points. Aaron Music had a game-high 21 points including a 3-pointer and Jeb Jones added 12 points.
Alijah Roman also had a 3-pointer.
Palmetto (10-2) was led by Maliek Brown with 15 points.
Coal Grove (4-1) jumped out to a 12-2 lead to start the game and led 19-10 at the end of the quarter as Music scored nine points and Jones five.
The Eagles tried to cut into the lead in the second quarter as Brown scored seven and Cole Silvester and Robert Gregg had four apiece and it was 36-28 at the half.
Palmetto battled back in the third quarter as Thomas Michel scored five points and Brown scored four and it was 53-46 at the end of the stanza.
Jones had five points while Jordan Case and Jalen McKenzie got four each for the Hornets.
Borders took over and got the hot hand with three 3-pointers while Music scored six points in the fourth quarter.
The Hornets were 6-of-8 from the foul line in the quarter including Payton Smith who was 3-of-4 at the line and Sam Angelo was 2-of-2.
The Eagles managed just eight points in the quarter — six by Grayson Silvester and two by Cole Silvester.
The Hornets will play Chrokee at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Coal Grove    19    17    17    23    =    76
Palmetto    10    18    18    8    =    54
COAL GROVE (4-1): Aaron Music 9 1 0-0 21, Cory Borders 0 5 0-0 15, Jordan Case 3 0 0-0 6, Jeb Jones 3 0 6-6 12, Nate Harmon 0 0 1-2 1, Payton Smith 0 0 3-4 3, Jalen McKenzie 2 0 1-2 5, Sam Angelo 2 0 4-5 8, Evan Gannon 0 0 0-0 0, Alijah Roman 0 1 0-0 3, Damian Giles 1 0 0-0 2, Dakota Bryne 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 7 19-15 76. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.
PALMETTO (10-2): Grayson Silvester 1 1 3-4 8, Malachi Ancrum 0 0 0-0 0, Marc Haight 1 0 3-4 5, Robert Gregg 2 0 4-5 8, Cole Silvester 1 1 4-5 9, Thomas Michel 1 1 2-4 7, Maliek Brown 7 0 1-2 15, William Stewart 1 0 0-0 2, Miles Haight 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 3 17-24 54. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.