Pointers hold off late charge by Highlanders to win 59-57

SOUTH POINT — It was the late, great comedian Jimmy Durante who had the catch phrase, “Everybody’s trying to get into the act.”

Everybody got into the act and it was a good thing as the South Point Pointers held off the Huntington Highlanders 59-57 on Thursday.

South Point's Austin Evans (11) pulls down a rebound during Thursday's game between the Huntington Highlanders. (Photo by Tim Gearhart)

“It was a great team win. We started really strong with Caleb (Lovely) carrying us,” said Pointers’ coach Travis Wise.

“Caleb fouled out with six minutes to go and the other players stepped up and got the job done. That was good for them. Josh (Childers) handled the pressure and we closed it out.”

The Pointers went in front 19-11 in the first quarter as Lovely drained three 3-pointers and scored 11 points with Carter Smith adding a 3-pointers.

Taviun Chandler hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points for Huntington.

The Highlanders cut the deficit to 31-27 at the half as Jayden Clark scored 7 points and Mikey Johnson was 4-of-4 at the line and scored 6 points.

Lovely scored 8 of the Pointers’ 12 points in the quarter.

The Pointers (5-2) came out strong in the third quarter and outscored Huntington 18-8 to build a 49-35 cushion.

Elijah Wilburn had 6 points and Lovely 4 more in the offensive surge.

Chandler and Clark scored 4 points each for the Highlanders.

But Lovely fouled out and didn’t score in the fourth quarter as Huntington mounted a comeback.

Clark hit a 3-pointer and scored 8 points, Chandler had 6 points and Johnson 5 for Huntington.

Childers and Brayden Hanshaw scored 3 points each to help hold off the Highlanders.

The Pointers were just 2-of-7 from the foul line in the fourth quarter.

“We need to improve our free throws,” said Wise.

Lovely finished with a game-high 23 points and had 2 steals. Elijah Wilburn had 10 points, Xathan Haney 8 points and 7 rebounds, Hanshaw 5 rebounds and Childers had 3 assists and 2 steals.

Clark scored 19 points, Chandler had 15 and Johnson added 13 for Huntington (2-3).

Huntington  11 16 8 22 = 57

South Point 19 12 18 10 = 59

HUNTINGTON (2-3): Tristan Hornbuckle 0 0 0-0 0, Malachi Faulk 0 0 0-0 0, Mikey Johnson 4 0 5-5 13, Avante Crawford 0 1 0-0 3, Taviun Chandler 6 1 0-5 15, Jayden Clark 5 2 3-7 19, Isaiah Lapsley 0 1 0-0 3, Antonio Taylor 0 0 0-0 0, Tayveon Wilson 2 0 0-0 4, Max Bohren 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 4 8-10 57. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (5-2): Caleb Lovely 7 3 0-0 23, Carter Smith 2 1 1-3 8, Elijah Wilburn 5 0 0-1 10, Xathan Haney 3 0 2-6 8, Josh Childers 2 0 1-2 5, Ethan Layne 0 0 0-0 0, Brayden Hanshaw 2 0 1-1 5, Jalyn Anderson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25-44 5-13 59. 3-pt goals: 4-12. Rebounds: 26 (Haney 7, Hanshaw 5). Assists: 12 (Childers 3, Lovely 2, Haney 2, Smith 2, Hanshaw 2). Steals: 6 (Lovely 2, Childers 2). Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Lovely.