Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — Some coaches will gamble and some will be conservative.
South Point Pointers’ coach Travis Wise doesn’t mind taking a chance as long as it’s Chance Gunther.
The Pointers’ senior guard scored 32 points including five 3-pointers as South Point pulled away in the second half to beat the Coal Grove Hornets 68-49 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
Gunther also had 3 assists and 2 steals for the Pointers (12-7, 9-4).
Nakyan Turner added 14 points along with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Brody Blackwell hit three 3-pointers and grabbed 8 rebounds.
Coal Grove (4-14, 3-10) was paced by Evan Gannon with 16 points while Jarren Hicks added 10 points.
South Point took a 16-15 first quarter lead as Turner scored 7 points. Gannon and Tait Matney each hit a 3-poitner and scored 5 points to keep the Hornets nipping at the Pointers’ heels.
Gunther — who had three 3-pointers and 14 points in the second quarter — converted a 3-point play and then hit a triple to give the Pointers a 34-28 lead late in the quarter.
Payton Smith hit a pair of foul shots to get the Hornets within 34-30 but Turner’s putback just before the buzzer had the Pointers ahead 36-30 at the half.
Blackwell got the hot hand and hit three trifectas in the third quarter and the Pointers led 51-39 after the third quarter.
Gannon scored 5 points in the quarter for Coal Grove.
Gannon hit a foul shot and Luke Ferguson got a putback after the second free throw missed and Coal Grove cut the deficit to 51-41 early in the fourth quarter.
Gunther and Smith traded baskets and it was 53-43 and then Gunther followed up a missed shot for a 55-43 lead with 6:14 to play.
A 3-point play by Gunther opened up a 58-43 before Gannon finally ended the short run with a long 3-pointer to make it 58-46.
Gunther answered with his own 3-pointer from the top of the key and Turner scored to give the Pointers a 63-46 lead.
NEXT UP: On Saturday, Coal Grove visits Huntington St. Joseph and South Point entertains Spring Valley with jayvee at 5 p.m.
Coal Grove 15 15 9 10 = 49
South Point 16 20 15 17 = 68
COAL GROVE (4-14, 3-10): Cory Borders 1 1 2-2 7, Evan Gannon 4 2 2-3 16, Peyton Smith 0 0 2-4 2, Tait Matney 1 1 0-0 5, Malachi Wheeler 2 0 0-2 4, Jarren Hicks 3 0 4-8 10, Perry Kingery 0 0 0-0 0, Luke Ferguson 2 0 0-0 4, Dryzen Mullens 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 4 11-21 49. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.
SOUTH POINT (12-7, 9-4): Nakyan Turner 5 0 4-8 14, Mason Kazee 1 0 2-2 4, Darryl Taylor 2 0 0-0 4, Kyle Badgett 0 0 1-2 1, Chance Gunther 6 5 5-8 32, Brody Blackwell 0 3 0-0 9, Braxton Horn 0 0 0-0 0, Jake Adams 1 0 2-2 4, Malik Pegram 0 0 0-0 0, Carmelo Sammons 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-34 14-18 68. 3-pt goals: 8-20. Rebounds: 35 (Blackwell 8, Taylor 8). Assists: 8 (Gunther 3, Turner 2). Steals: 5 (Adams 3, Gunther 2, Turner 2). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Badgett.