Clutch foul shooting keys Pointers comeback win over Blue Devils

GALLIPOLIS — Trailing for most of the game, the South Point Pointers were able to rally in the fourth behind clutch foul shooting and a scoring run to close the game out and secure a 60-51 win over the Gallia Blue Devils in an Ohio Valley Conference clash on Monday night.

South Point (2-2, 1-1 OVC) was able to close the deal in the fourth quarter thanks to a 16-4 run over the final 2:45 of the game. That run was sparked by the Pointers being able to convert 14-of-16 free throws in the quarter and come up with some critical rebounds on both ends.

"In tight games, you have to convert free throws to win and our kids did that," said South Point coach Travis Wise. "Our kids also stepped up late to get some big rebounds after (Gallia) controlled the glass for much of the game."

Ethan Hunt went a perfect 6-for-6 from the line and Keondre Garred converted 5-of-6 to highlight the final quarter.

In the fourth, the Pointers took just their second lead of the game when Caseyn Pope sank 2 free throws to make it 44-42 with 4:11 remaining in the game.

But the Blue Devils (2-4, 1-3) took the lead back on the ensuing possession when Alex Blair drove to his right and drew a foul on a layup. Blair sank the free throw for the old-fashioned 3-point play and a 45-44 lead for Gallia with 3:27 left.

Gabe Hammons followed later with a run out layup to make it a 3-point game.

But back-to-back scores from Davon Lewis and James Carey put the Pointers back in front for good with just under 2 minutes to go.

Then Hunt found Lewis alone underneath for another score from point-blank and the Pointers had their biggest lead of the game at 50-47 with 1:18 to go.

On their following possession, the Blue Devils couldn't convert on two shots from close range, and the Pointers capitalized on the other end a pair of free throws.

Garred sank his first but missed his second attempt, but Carey was able to get a huge offensive board off the miss and draw a foul on the way down. Carey then converted both to push the Pointers lead out to 52-47 with 55 seconds remaining in the game.

The Blue Devils couldn't convert on their ensuing possession and were forced to start fouling.

That's when Garred hit 4-straight, and Hunt and Lewis both sank a pair to finish out the game.

Hunt led the way for the Pointers with a game-high 17 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Lewis finished with 16 points, 4 boards and a pair of steals. Carey just missed out on a double-double with 9 points and 10 rebounds.

For the Blue Devils, they were led from the inside by Hammons with 16 points and 12 rebounds to earn a double-double. Ty Reed had 14 and also pulled in 6 rebounds, 6 assists. Sola finished with 11 points.

Gallia showed a strong first quarter, getting 8 points each from Sola and Hammons to help the Blue Devils hold a 16-12 lead.

The Pointers got 8 points out of Hunt in the first to help keep pace.

In the second, the Blue Devils were able to expand their lead out to their biggest of the game at 22-16 when Ty Reed hit Sola in transition for a layup with 4:18 remaining before halftime.

Carey cut the Blue Devils lead down to 18-16 following a put back of his own miss at the 5:58 mark of the second.

South Point was able to tie the game up at 24-all on Garred's fade away from the baseline after it got the roll needed to fall in with 1:10 left before halftime.

The Blue Devils were able to take the lead back with free throws from Reed and another by Colson Miller, and aimed to add to their lead more as they set up for the final shot of the half.

However Pope was able to pickpocket Reed at the top of the key and score as time expired to have the Pointers trail just 27-26 at the break.

The Pointers took their first lead of the game in the third quarter when Pope nailed a triple to make it 30-29 at the 5:50 mark.

The lead didn't last as the Blue Devils ripped off 6-straight points — capped off by a layup from Reed off a steal and assist from Alex Blair — to take the lead back.

But back came the Pointers in the closing seconds, as Carey swung a pass to Hunt, and the senior was able to sink a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit to 40-38 to end the third quarter and set up a fourth quarter comeback.

South Point returns home on Saturday to face Vinton County. The Blue Devils travel to River Valley.

South Point       12   14 12 22  =  60

Gallia Acad. 16   13   13 11  =  51

SOUTH POINT (2-2, 1-1): James Carey 4 0 1-2 9, Ethan Hunt 1 3 6-6 17, Davon Lewis 2 3 3-4 16, Luke Fitzpatrick 2 0 0-0 4, Keondre Garred 1 0 5-6 7, Caesyn Pope 2 1 0-1 7, Jay Marcum 0 0 0-0 0, Hunter Chinn 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 6 15-17 60. Rebounds: Turnovers 18. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

GALLIA ACADEMY (2-4, 1-3): Ty Reed 3 0 8-8 14, Tripp Sola 2 2 1-2 11, Ethan Rose 0 0 0-0 0, Gabe Hammons 8 0 0-0 16, Colson Miller 2 0 1-2 5, Grant Owens. 0 0 0-0 0, Alex Blair 2 0 1-1 5, Brody Beaver 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 0 0 0-0 00. Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.