If too many cooks spoil the broth, then too many scorers ruin the defensive game plan.

Most teams look to shut down a player or two to give them a chance to win.

That’s not the case with the Belpre Golden Eagles who have so much offensive balance Ironton coach Mark LaFon isn’t sure who should get most of the attention when the Fighting Tigers face Belpre at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Division III district semifinals.

The Golden Eagles offensive balance is led by 5-foot-10 junior guard Jordan Thornhill who averages 24 points a game.

Also in double figures are 5-9 senior Dustin Adams at 13.2 and 6-4 senior center Brad Loyland with a 10.2 scoring average.

Zach Alkire, a 5-10 senior, and 6-3 senior Broc Pittenger both average just under double figures at eight points a game.

“Obviously, Thornhill is their top scorer and you have to contend with him first, but the others are all capable of big games. Their balance makes it tough to try and help with Thornhill and leave someone else free,” LaFon said.

Pittenger also pulls down 10.5 rebounds a game and Loyland grabs 9.5 rebounds per outing.

“(Pittenger and Loyland) are awful strong on the boards. They’re one of the better one-two rebounding duos we’ve faced,” LaFon said.

Belpre is 14-7 and finished tied for third in the Tri-Valley Conference at 6-4. The Eagles were the preseason favorite to win the TVC.

“They hit a dead spot where they didn’t play weel last in the season, but they’re a much better team than their record indicates. They’ve beaten some good teams,” LaFon said.

The two teams have one common opponent in Portmsouth.

One of the Eagles win was 63-47 at Portsmouth. Ironton won at Portsmouth 60-52

late in the season.

Ironton (16-5) beat South Point 60-42 thanks to a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter to win its sectional tournament.

In Belpre’s 73-59 sectional championship game win over Wellston, Thornhill scored 24 points, Adams 15 and Alkire 11.