By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

CHESAPEAKE — It didn’t take any scientist or special science study to figure this one out.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers were just better. A lot better.

Ironton crushed the Dayton Horizon Science Academy Hawks 79-15 Saturday in the second annual Beasts of the Southeast basketball classic.

“It wasn’t a tough test for us, but we did do some things well. I was happy to see our offense more balanced,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon.

Ironton (7-3) had four players in double figures led by Zac Carter with 19. Travis Elliott had 13 points and six rebounds while Trey Fletcher and Trevor White had 12 points each. Josh Murphy had a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Fighting Tigers dominated the boards 42-13 and held Horizon to just 6 of 38 shooting from the field. Horizon had 15 turnovers to just six for Ironton.

The Fighting Tigers settled the outcome early as they outscored Horizon 28-7 in the first quarter and the lead ballooned to 47-9 at the half.

Ironton’s competition steps up this week. The Fighting Tigers host Portsmouth on Tuesday and play in the Huntington St. Joe Invitational Thursday and Saturday.

Horizon 7 2 2 4 = 15

Ironton 28 19 14 18 = 79

DAYTON HORIZON ACADEMY (0-2): Love 0 0 0-0 0, McDonald 0 0 0-0 0, Carter 0 0 2-2 2, Williams 1 0 0-0 2, Brown 2 0 0-0 4, Campbell 0 0 0-0 0, Likely 2 0 0-1 4, Grisby 1 0 0-0 2, Garner 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 6-38 3-5 15. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 0-6. Rebounds: 6 offense, 7 defense = 13 (Williams 4). Assists: 3 (Carter 2). Steals: 2. Turnovers: 15.

IRONTON (7-3): Zac Carter 7 0 5-5 19, Josh Glover 2 0 0-0 4, Travis Elliott 6 0 3-4 13, Josh Murphy 1 0 2-2 4, Trey Fletcher 3 1 3-4 12, Nick Culbertson 1 0 0-0 2, Trevor White 6 0 0-0 12, Geoff Delawder 2 0 0-0 4, Tanner Schweickart 0 0 0-0 0, Nolan Johnson 4 0 1-2 9. Totals: 33-60 12-15 79. Fouls: 5. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 1-6. Rebounds: 18 offense, 24 defense = 42 (Murphy 12, Elliott 6). Assists: 17 (Carter 7, Elliott 4, Glover 3). Steals: 11 (Carter 3, Elliott 3). Turnovers: 6. Blocked shots: 5 (Fletcher 4).