Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — Brody Blackwell has been a role player for the South Point Pointers, but on Tuesday he went from understudy to win the award for best player in a supporting role.
Blackwell scored a season-high 15 points including some clutch free throws as the Pointers held off the Rock Hill Redmen 73-63 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
South Point led by just 3 points heading into the fourth quarter. Blackwell hit two clutch 3-pointers and was 4-of-6 at the foul line as the Pointers outscored the Redmen 26-19.
The Pointers were 14-of-20 from the line in the fourth quarter as Austin Webb made 4-of-8 and Chance Gunther 4-of-6. Webb had 8 points and Gunther 6 points in the quarter.
Gunther led the Pointers with 24 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. Webb had 19 points and 6 rebounds for the Pointers (4-4, 3-2).
Braden Stamper had 18 points and 4 assists, Logan Hankins 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assist and 4 steals while Brayden Malone added 14 points and 5 rebounds as Rock Hill (3-8, 0-5) lost another tough game.
Nick Blankenship had a game-high 7 rebounds for the Redmen.
Mason Kazee hit a pair of 3-pointers and Gunther scored 5 points as South Point lead 14-12 after the first quarter. Stamper had two 3-pointers and Malone 4 points to keep the Redmen close.
Gunther had 6 points and Kyle Badgett 4 as South Point opened up a 31-24 halftime lead. Hankins got the hot hand and hit three trifectas and Malone scored 6 points in the third quarter as Rock Hill cut the deficit to 47-44.
Webb had 8 points and Gunther 7 for the Pointers to set up the thrilling finish.
On Friday, South Point is at Coal Grove and Rock Hill visits Fairland.
South Point 14 17 16 26 = 73
Rock Hill 12 12 20 19 = 63
SOUTH POINT (4-4, 3-2): Jake Adams 0 0 0-0 0, Chance Gunther 9 0 6-10 24, Nakyan Turner 1 0 1-2 3, Mason Kazee 1 2 0-0 8, Darryl Taylor 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Webb 5 0 7-12 19, Kyle Badgett 2 0 0-0 4, Brody Blackwell 1 3 4-6 15. Totals: 24-49 18-30 73. 3-pt goals: 5-19. Rebounds: 21 (Webb 6, Kazee 4). Assists: 12 (Gunther 6). Steals: 10 (Gunther 4). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Turner.
ROCK HILL (3-8, 0-5): Noah Doddridge 0 0 0-0 0, Logan Hankins 2 4 1-2 17, Garrett Miller 0 1 0-0 3, Brayden Adams 1 0 0-0 2, Victor Day 0 0 0-0 0, Nick Blankenship 2 0 1-2 5, Braden Stamper 2 4 2-4 18, Owen Hankins 2 0 0-0 4, Brayden Malone 7 0 0-2 14. Totals: 25-48 4-10 63. 3-pt goals: 9-14. Rebounds: 10-O, 13-D = 23 (Blankenship 7, L. Hankins 5, Malone 5). Assists: 13 (Stamper 4, L. Hankins 4). Steals: 6 (L. Hankins 4). Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: L. Hankins. Stamper.