Lady Hornets rally back for overtime win over Blue Angels

GALLIPOLIS — Making turnover is bad. Not making turnovers is good.

Just ask the Coal Grove Lady Hornets.

Turnovers plagued the Lady Hornets in the first half as they fell behind 21-14. But a strong fourth quarter tied the game and Coal Grove went on to win 53-49 in overtime to open Ohio Valley Conference play on Tuesday.

“It was a great comeback after being down by 12 in the fourth quarter and never giving up,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Nick Miller.

“We turned the ball over way too much which led to us having just 6 points with 4 minutes to go in the second quarter. From that point on, we cut down the turnovers and it gave us an opportunity to win.”

Mallory Petro and Loulea Walker had 4 points each as Gallia went up 12-4 in the first quarter.

Five different players scored as Coal Grove began to rally in the second quarter and cut the deficit to 21-14 at the half.

The Blue Angels managed to open up a 38-27 lead in the third quarter as Petro scored 8 points and Graham drilled a pair of 3-pointers.

Jenna Anson scored 4 points while Emma Lively and Palin Hunter hit 3-pointers to keep Coal Grove within striking distance.

In the fourth quarter, Coal Grove held Gallipolis to just 6 points —Petro scored 4 — and the Lady Hornets rallied as Anson scored 7 points, Kendall Taylor had 4 and Lively nailed another 3- pointers.

Coal Grove (3-0, 1-0) converted 5 of 6 at the foul line in overtime to key the win. Taylor and Anson each went 2 for 2 and Lively 1-2.

Walker had 4 of the Blue Angels 5 points in the quarter.

Anson and Taylor scored 15 points each to lead the Lady Hornets offense.

Petro scored a game-high 16 for Gallia Academy.

Coal Grove  4  10  13  17  9  =  53

Gallia Acad. 12    9  17    6  5  =  49

COAL GROVE (3-0, 1-0): Palin Hunter 0 1 1-2 4, Hailie McKnight 0 0 0-0 0, Kendall Taylor 5 0 5-6 15, Karli Shore 1 0 0-0 2, Shay Collins 0 0 2-2 2, Emma Lively 0 2 2-4 8, Izzy Kitts 3 0 1-3 7, Jenna Anson 6 0 3-4 15, Rebekah Dome 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 3 14-21 53. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

GALLIA ACADEMY (0-2, 0-1): Jacey McWhorter 0 1 0-0 3, Aspen Barnes 0 0 1-2 1, Chloe Bennett 2 0 0-0 4, Aftyn Graham 1 2 0-0 8, Rylee Saunders 0 0 0-0 0, Ryen Nunn 1 0 2-2 4, Leigha Kingery 0 0 0-0 0, Tayor Barnes 0 1 2-4 5, Mallory Petro 6 0 4-4 16, Naomi Walker 0 0 0-0 0, Maggie Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Loulea Walker 3 0 2-2 8. Totals: 13 4 11-14 49. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.