By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COLUMBUS — While the Ironton Fighting Tigers made it hard for the Bexley Lions to score, Braden Schreck just kept on scoring.

Ironton used a stingy defense in the second half and got 20 points from Schreck including career points 1,001 in a 61-43 rout of the Bexley Lions in the 614 Shootout at Ohio Dominican University on Sunday.

“We had a good defensive effort, but our defensive effort in the second half was fantastic,” said Ironton coach Chris Barnes. “I never have a problem whether we win or lose if we give our best effort.”

Besides Schreck, Bailey Thacker had 15 points and Ashton Layne added 10 points and solid defense.

“That was Bailey’s best game of the year. He looked like he did in the summer and preseason. I think his knee is much better,” said Barnes. “Ashton Layne had a solid game and played good defense on their best player (Andrew Zwick).”

Ironton led 16-14 after the first quarter as Schreck hit a trifecta and scored 7 points and Thacker added 3 points.

Andrew Zwick hit a pair of 3-pointers and Stanford Brandt and Jamie Wright made 3-pointers for the Lions.

Bryce “Instant Offense” Markins and Thacker drained 3-pointers and Schreck had 4 more points as Ironton extended the lead to 31-26 at the break.

Eli Rosen and Jackson Frey knocked down treys for the Lions who made six 3-pointers in the first half.

“These teams we play keep starting the game making a bunch of 3-pointers. It seems like every game teams who usually don’t shoot a lot of 3s are making them,” said Barnes.

But then came the third quarter and Ironton outscored Bexley 17-2.

Ironton limited the Lions to just a pair of free throws by Julian Grossman as the lead grew to 48-28.

Thacker hit another 3-pointer and he scored 5 points as did Schreck and Layne.

The only drama left was Schreck who needed 3 points to reach the 1,000-point milestone. He had a basket and then sank 2 foul shots with 2:13 left that gave Ironton a 54-36 lead.

Tyler Roach hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left that capped the afternoon win.

Ironton travels to South Point on Friday in a battle for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Ironton    16 15 17 13 = 61

Bexley 14 12 2 15 = 43

IRONTON (9-3): Shaun Terry 2 0 1-2 5, Braylon Sturgill 0 0 0-0 0, Bailey Thacker 4 2 1-3 15, Bryce Markins 0 1 0-0 3, Judah Barnes 0 0 0-0 0, Tyler Roach 1 1 1-2 6, Markel Cotton 1 0 0-0 2, Braden Schreck 7 1 3-3 20, Kayden Edwards 0 0 0-0 0, Ashton Layne 4 0 2-3 10, Noah Patterson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 5 8-13 61. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Layne (4th 2:21).

BEXLEY (4-7): Jamie Wright 1 1 0-0 5, Ben Ramsey 1 0 0-0 2, Eli Rosen 1 1 0-0 5, Jackson Frey 1 1 1-2 6, Kyle Hagely 0 0 0-4 0, Aedan Mitchel 0 1 1-2 4, Julian Grossman 0 0 2-2 2, Stanford Brandt 1 1 0-0 5, Reed Solar 1 0 0-0 2, Andrew Zwick 2 2 2-2 12. Totals: 8 7 6-12 43. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.