Balanced play keys Lady Hornets to win over Lady Panthers

CHESAPEAKE — Playing good on offense and good on defense led to good results.

Playing a balanced game, the Coal Grove Lady Hornets held off the Chesapeake Lady Panthers 40-37 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.

“We played well on offense and defense in the first half,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Nick Miller. “They came out in a zone and we moved the ball and had balanced scoring. Kendall Taylor had a good scoring second quarter with seven points.” 

Coal Grove (16-5, 10-4) jumped out to a 16-7 first quarter lead as Jenna Anson scored 6 points while Kendall Taylor and Izzy Kitts scored 4 each.

Abbey Isaacs hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points while Chloe Parrott had a basket for the Lady Panthers.

The Lady Hornets extended the lead to 27-16 at the half as Taylor hit a 3-pointer and scored 7 points in the second quarter.

Chesapeake converted 5 of 8 from the foul line in the quarter with K.J. Collins sinking 2 free throws as she scored 4 points.

The Lady Panthers (13-8, 7-7) began to rally in the third quarter as they cut the deficit to 33-30.

Ciera Nichols keyed the comeback as she drained a pair of shots from behind the arc and scored 8 points.

“(Chesapeake coach Chris Ball) came out with a set on offense that led to two quick 3-point baskets and they were right back in it,” said Miller. “We struggled on offense to score and we were 3-of-13 from the free throw line which didn’t help.”

Anson had 4 points and Kitts 2 to account for the Coal Grove scoring.

In the fourth quarter, Coal Grove was just 3 of 10 at the foul line.

But Chesapeake had trouble scoring as well.

Nichols hit a trifecta after.a turnover with a little more than a minute to play. Kitts and Anson each went 1-of-2 from the line and Chesapeake was unable to get off another shot.

Kitts scored 13 points and Anson 11 to pace Coal Grove.

Nichols had 11 points and Parrott 10 to lead Chesapeake. Leading scorer Abbey Isaacs finished with 8 points.

“I thought Izzy Kitts did a great job defending Isaacs,” said Miller.

Coal Grove 16 11 6 7 = 40

Chesapeake 7 9 14 7 = 37

COAL GROVE (16-5, 10-4): Palin Hunter 0 0 0-2 0, Haili McKnight 0 0 0-0 0, Kendall Taylor 4 1 0-0 11, Karli Shore 2 0 1-4 5, Shay Collins 0 0 0-0 0, Emma Lively 0 0 0-0 0, Izzy Kitts 4 1 2-5 13, Jenna Anson 4 0 3-8 11, Rebekah Dome 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 2 6-19 40. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

CHESAPEAKE (13-8, 7-7): K.J. Collins 1 0 2-2 4, Hollie Moore 0 0 0-0 0, Sara Dillon 1 0 0-0 2, Abbey Isaacs 1 1 3-4 8, Chloe Parrott 5 0 0-2 10, Abby Mitchell 0 0 2-4 2, Ciera Nichols 1 3 0-0 11. Totals: 9 4 5-8 37. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.