By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Grab your camera, your telescope or microscope. Now, focus.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers could add Tuesday’s Ohio Valley Conference game to the list of things they need to focus on, and that they did as they held on to beat the Fairland Dragons 65-60.

Both teams came into the game unbeaten and a win could be crucial to winning the league title.

But Ironton coach Chris Barnes knew Fairland’s offense is reminiscent of Princeton University’s style which is hard to defend.

“It was a great, great effort by our guys. It was a lot different than the other night,” said Barnes. “There was a lot more focus. I could tell in warmups. The focus was there and the want-to. We had great focus and defensive intensity tonight.”

The Fighting Tigers (4-0, 3-0) also had a better shooting performance than last Friday when they shot poorly from the field, 3-point range and the foul line. This time, Ironton was 49 percent from the field, 7-of-14 from behind the arc and 10-of-15 from the line including 7-of-8 over the final 52 seconds.

Braden Schreck had a game-high 25 points including a season -high three 3-pointers, Shaun Terry scored 16 and Bailey Thacker scored 12 including 2-of-2 from 3-point range.

“We have to get OVC wins early. Against good teams, you have to shoot well early and often,” said Schreck.

“We struggled at Coal Grove and my dad (coach Toben Schreck) had me in the gym at 7 a.m. three days in a row just working on my 3-point game so I’d be able to shoot over top of people with my 3-pointer. My dad gets on me all of the time about fading away and not going straight up.”

Brody Buchanan led Fairland (4-1, 2-1) with 21 points — 18 in the second half — with Chase Allen scoring 14 and Keegan Smith 10.

“I challenged Braden and Shaun in practice. Other than getting caught on a few screens and going under, I though we did a good job,” said Barnes

“I know Buchanan got hot late. They have a good team and they shoot the ball well. That was probably Braden’s best shooting game from 3s. He looked more comfortable.”

Other than a 6-6 tie, Ironton led throughout the first quarter.

A 3-pointer by Thacker gave Ironton its biggest lead of the game at 29-16 with 4:05 left in the half.

“I knew coming in it would be a big game and we had to click on all cylinders and we did,” said Thacker.

But a 3-pointer by Allen and a couple of 3-point plays by Smith got Fairland within 33-27 at the half.

Buchanan hit a long 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 39-38 and his layup put Fairland ahead 40-39 with 1:08 left in the third quarter. But Bryce “Instant Offense” Markins answered with a 3-pointer and then a 15-footer as Ironton took a 44-40 lead.

“Fairland is a great team and they never quit. We had them on the ropes a couple of times and they hit a couple of big 3s. You lose their guys for a second, you find them when the 3s are going in,” said Barnes.

“That was a great effort. What I was most proud of was when Fairland took its first lead of the game and the crowd went huts, we came right down and Bryce Markins hit a 3 and they never had another lead.”

Buchanan gave Fairland the lead again at 56-54 with under 3 minutes to play, but Schreck hit a 10-footer and a fall-away 17-footer to give Ironton the lead for good.

Ashton Layne and Schreck both sank a pair of foul shots before Buchanan made another layup. But Terry sank 2 foul shots and it was 64-58 with just 29 seconds left.

Fairland    12 15 13 20 = 60

Ironton     18 15 11 21 = 65

FAIRLAND (4-1, 2-1): Will Davis 4-5 0-1 0-0 8, Chase Allen 0-5 4-7 2-4 14, Brycen Hunt 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Trevor Lochow 0-0 0-1 0-0 0, Noah Marcum 2-3 1-1 0-1 7, Cliff Fransen 0-0 0-1 0-0 0, Keegan Smith 4-5 0-2 2-2 10, Brody Buchanan 6-10 2-3 3-4 21. Totals: 23-44 7-11 60. 3-pt goals: 7-16. Rebounds: 18 (Hunt 5, Allen 4). Assists: 7 (Buchanan 3, Allen 2, Davis 2). Steals: 1. Turnovers: 8. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Marcum.

IRONTON (4-0, 3-0): Quentin Rodehaver 0-0 0-1 0-0 0, Shaun Terry 4-9 1-3 5-7 16, Bailey Thacker 3-7 2-2 0-2 12, Bryce Markins 1-1 1-3 1-2 6, Tyler Roach 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Markel Cotton 0-0 0-1 0-0 0, Braden Schreck 7-14 3-4 2-2 25, Ashton Lane 2-4 0-0 2-2 6. Totals: 24-49 10-15 65. 3-pt goals: 7-14. Rebounds: O-10 D-16 = 26 (Schreck 6, Terry 6, Thacker 5, Layne 6). Assists: 9 (Terry 3, Schreck 2, Thacker 2). Steals: 3 (Terry, Thacker, Layne). Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.