Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — You can start making the banner. There might be one addition, and then there might not.
Bouncing back from a 15-point loss to Ironton on Monday, the Lady Hornets beat the South Point Lady Pointers 63-50 on Thursday to clinch a share of their second straight Ohio Valley Conference title.
“After a tough loss to Ironton, I was wondering how the team would respond. After giving up 20 (points) in the first quarter, I was a little worried,” said Roach. “We adjusted and they picked up some fouls forcing starters to sit.”
Coal Grove is now 14-6 and 12-1 in the OVC, one game ahead of Ironton with one game to play in the conference.
However, the Lady Hornets can wrap up the title outright with a win against Portsmouth next Thursday.
The Lady Hornets were led by Addi Dillow with 26 points and Abbey Hicks who hit five 3-pointers and scored a career-high 20 points.
Emilee Whitt scored 22 points and Emilee Carey had three 3-ointers and scored 15 points for the Lady Pointers (12-6, 8-5).
Carey hit two 3-pointers and scored 10 points while Whitt had 6 points as South Point took a 20-16 first quarter lead.
Hicks had a pair of 3-pointrs and Dillow scored 6 points for the Lady Hornets.
Coal Grove rallied in the second quarter to take a slim 29-28 halftime lead as Dillow scored 6 points and Hicks got another trey.
Whitt had 5 points as she and Diamond Crawley each hit 3-pointers in the quarter.
“At halftime, we talked about how dangerous their shooters are and how they can create,” said Roach.
“Dillow and Hicks did a great job of handling the pressure all night. As usual, they knocked down some difficult shots.”
The Lady Hornets extended their lead to 44-39 in the third quarter as Hicks drained another trifecta and scored 5 points and Dillow added 4 more.
Whitt scored 8 of South Points’ 11 points in the quarter.
Dillow took charge and scored 10 points in the fourth quarter while Hicks had a triple and scored 6 points and Coal Grove outscored South Point 19-11.
Carey had a 3-pointer and scored 5 points in the quarter.
“Every time I thought we were going to pull away, South Point would battle back. I knew they would. They have a tremendous group of seniors that will knock back down,” said Roach.
“In the second half, I felt like our rebounding from Murphy and Harmon helped us keep control of our lead and get us the win. Now we need to focus on beating Portsmouth and securing a win and the OVC all by ourselves.”
Coal Grove host Greenup County on Monday and South Point entertains Chesapeake next Thursday.
Coal Grove 16 13 15 19 = 63
South Point 20 8 11 11 = 50
COAL GROVE (14-6, 12-1): Ellie Holmes 3 0 0-0 6, Addi Dillow 11 0 4-4 26, Caitlin Dillon 1 0 0-0 2, Mikayla Daniels 0 0 0-0 0, Kaleigh Murphy 3 0 1-3 7, Abbey Hicks 2 5 1-2 20, Rylee Harmon 1 0 0-1 2, Jaidyn Griffith 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 5 6-9 63. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
SOUTH POINT (12-6, 8-5): Emilee Whitt 6 1 7-8 22, Maddy Khounlavong 2 0 2-3 4, Sarah Mitchell 0 0 0-0 0, Emilee Carey 3 3 0-0 15, Kaelyn Jones 0 0 0-2 0, Diamond Crawley 2 1 0-0 7, Kimrie Staley 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 5 9-11 50. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.