Portsmouth senior Ashanti Richardson (11) attempts to avoid the steal by Coal Grove’s Rylee Harmon (22) during Thursday night’s Ohio Valley Conference girls basketball game at Coal Grove High School.
Courtesy of Tim Gearhart
Portsmouth senior Jaiden Rickett (21) shoots a layup over Coal Grove’s Addi Dillow (3) during Thursday night’s Ohio Valley Conference girls basketball game at Coal Grove High School.
Courtesy of Tim Gearhart
COAL GROVE — Unfortunately for the Lady Trojans, their strong start didn’t equate to such a like finish.
That’s because visiting Portsmouth, playing at Coal Grove on Thursday night in the Ohio Valley Conference finale for the season, posted just a single fourth-quarter point —and suffered a 44-35 defeat to the back-to-back OVC champion Lady Hornets.
That’s correct.
Portsmouth played right with the Lady Hornets through the opening three quarters, but only managed a Nia Trinadad free throw in the fourth and final period.
Coal Grove, conversely, scored 13 fourth-period points —including three-pointers apiece by Addi Dillow and Abbey Hicks and a pair of free throws from Dillow.
The Lady Trojans took a 34-31 advantage entering the fourth, but missed all 11 of their field-goal attempts in the stanza.
Portsmouth led 12-10 following the first frame, and only trailed 18-17 at halftime — despite a five-point second quarter in which Hannah Hughes had a field goal and a split of free throws and fellow senior Jaiden Rickett registered a basket.
But Hughes hit a huge third period, as she scored nine of the Lady Trojans’ 17 points in the canto, including her third three-pointer of the game and three deuces.
Hughes poured in a game-high 20 points, as her eight opening-period points included her other three-pointers.
Rickett rained in a third-quarter three for her only other points, while Trinadad tallied a first-quarter triple.
Skilyn Robinson, on a field goal and 2-of-5 free throws for four points, and Ashanti Richardson —on a third-quarter bucket —rounded out the Portsmouth scoring.
Dillow, who added three deuces to her five fourth-period points, and Kaleigh Murphy —on five field goals and a split of second-quarter free throws —paced the Lady Hornets with 11 points apiece.
Hicks hit 10 points on two twos and two threes, while Rylee Harmon had seven second-half markers on three field goals and a foul shot.
The Lady Trojans, which host St. Patrick of Kentucky on Saturday for the regular-season finale, wrapped up OVC competition at 3-11 —and are now 8-13.
Coal Grove is the outright OVC champion for the second consecutive season, as it ended the regular season at 13-1 and atop the league — part of 16-6 overall.
Portsmouth — the 24th-seeded squad in the Division III sectional tournament — plays ninth-seeded Alexander on Monday in a semifinal matchup.
Tipoff time for that bout is set for 5 p.m. at Jackson High School.
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