WILLOW WOOD — E.L.J.A.

Emma Lively and Jenna Anson were the main letters the Coal Grove Lady Hornets needed to beat the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings 42-35 on Wednesday.

The pair combined for 29 points with Lively scoring 15 and Anson 14.

Lydia Saunders and Brenna Tibbs scored 9 points each for the Lady Vikings who were playing their third game in as many days.

“It was a hard-fought win. Symmes Valley battled even after playing their third game in three nights,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Nick Miller.

“We played extremely  good half-court defense all night. Emma Lively had another good shooting night and Jenna Anson scored well around the basket. Kendall Taylor played a great defensive game.”

Lively hit a 3-pointer while Kasey Vanderhoof and Anson added baskets for the Lady Hornets as they took a 7-4 first quarter lead.

Saunders and Kaitlyn Maynard had a basket each for the Lady Vikings.

Lively drained 3 more 3-pointers, Isabelle Kitts and Vanderhoof also hit treys as Coal Grove (1-1) opened up a 24-13 lead at the break.

Tibbs nailed a 3-pointer and had 5 points for Symmes Valley.

Saunders scored 4 points with Nevaeh Holbrook and Maynard each getting a basket as Symmes Valley cut the deficit to 32-23.

Anson scored 6 of Coal Grove’s 8 points in the quarter.

The Lady Vikings (0-3) cut off 2 more points from the lead in the fourth quarter but it was not enough.

Saunders hit a trey, Tibbs sank 3 foul shots as 5 different players scored for the Lady Vikings.

Anson had 4 points but the Lady Hornets struggled at the foul line as they were only able to connect on 4-of-12 attempts.

Coal Grove 7 17 8 10 = 42

Sym. Valley    4 9 10 12 = 35

COAL GROVE (1-1): Kendall Taylor 0 0 2-4 2, Kalli Vanderhoof 0 0 0-0 0, Kasey Vanderhoof 1 1 0-2 5, Shay Collins 0 0 0-0 0, Emma Lively 1 4 1-3 15, Izzy Kitts 0 1 3-4 6, Jenna Anson 7 0 0-6 14, Harmonee Boggs 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 6 6-19 42. Fouls: 15. Fouled out None.

SYMMES VALLEY (0-3): Lydia Saunders 3 1 0-2 9, Aly Haydon 0 0 0-2 0, Brenna Tibbs 1 1 3-3 8, Nevaeh Holbrook 2 0 3-4 7, Aylissa Anthony 2 0 0-0 4, Kaitlyn Maynard 2 0 3-4 7, Natalie Simpson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 2 9-15 . Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.