Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — One man’s ceiling is another man’s floor. Or in the case of the Coal Grove Hornets and Oak Hill Oaks, one team’s strength is another team’s weakness.
Oak Hill came into Saturday’s Beast of the Southeast game ranked in the Associated Press poll top 10 and with an 11-1 record.
Oak Hill has relied on post player Chase Hammond while Coal Grove utilizes its outside shooting.
The big, strong Hammond proved too much for the Hornets’ defense as the senior scored 26 points to lead the Oaks to a 53-29 win over the injury-plagued Hornets.
Drew Hanning added 12 points for the Oaks who are now 12-1.
Coal Grove (3-8) was led by Evan Gannon with 17 points.
Oak Hill took an 18-6 first quarter lead as Hammond scored 8 points and Hanning hit a 3-pointer and added 5 more. Gannon got 4 points for the Hornets.
Hammond and Hanning had 5 points each with Hanning and Braylan Howell each hitting 3-pointers as the lead grew to 33-17 at the half.
Gannon scored all 11 Coal Grove points in the quarter including a pair of 3-pointers.
Hammond had 9 of the Oaks 11 points in the third quarter as they extended the lead to 44-23.
On Tuesday, Coal Grove goes to Portsmouth.
Coal Grove 6 11 6 6 = 29
Oak Hill 18 15 11 9 = 53
COAL GROVE (3-8): Perry Kingery 1 0 0-0 2, Evan Gannon 5 2 1-2 17, Peyton Smith 2 0 1-2 5, Trevor Hankins 0 0 0-0 0, Luke Ferguson 1 0 0-0 2, Malachi Wheeler 1 0 0-0 2, Dryzen Mullens 0 0 0-0 0, Jarren Hicks 0 0 1-2 1, Trey Hunt 0 0 0-2 0, Chase Hall 0 0 0-0 0, Ethan Short 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 2 3-8 29. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.
OAK HILL (12-1): Keaton Potter 1 0 00 2, Erik Kallner 0 0 0-0 0, Drew Hanning 2 2 2-2 12, Luke Stewarts 0 1 0-0 3, Noah Donley 1 0 0-0 2, Landon Hines 0 1 0-0 3, Chase Hammond 9 0 8-9 26, Braylon Howell 1 1 0-0 5, Garrett Stiltner 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 5 10-11 53. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.