By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — The Ironton Fighting Tigers wanted to focus on defense Friday night.

That focus almost became an obsession as Ironton downed the Coal Grove Hornets 63-39 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Ironton held the Hornets to 21 percent shooting including just 5 field goals in the second half.

“We stressed defense going in the pregame and at halftime. They did a great job,” said Ironton coach Chris Barnes. “I think they only had four field goals in the whole second half. We held Owen Johnson to no field goal in the second half.”

Johnson — Coal Grove’s leading scorer — managed just 5 points for the game. Kody Harmon scored 13 points to lead the Hornets (8-12, 3-11).

Ironton’s leading scorer was Braden Schreck with a game-high 26 points. Schreck now has 1,607 career points and moves into second place on the Ironton all-time scoring list behind Zac Carter. Schreck passed Dennis Gagai who has 1,595.

“Braden had a great offensive game,” said Barnes.

Markel Cotton had a big game with 17 points and Maddix Markel scored 11 as Ironton improved to 11-6 overall and 9-3 in the OVC.

“Markel might have played the best game he’s ever played. He scored and was the primary defender on Owen Johnson who only had five points and I believe zero field goals in the second half,” said Barnes.

Cotton’s 3-pointer started the game’s scoring and it was a 15-footer by Markel and layups by Judah Barnes and Braden Schreck that opened up a 15-5 lead.

Cameryn Chaffins’ 3-pointer cut the deficit to 15-8 but Cotton’s triple had the lead at 18-10.

Tyler Roach knocked down a trey at the buzzer and Ironton was up 21-10 at the close of the first quarter.

Ironton opened up a 27-13 lead when Cotton followed up his own miss.

A layup by Roach put Ironton up 31-19 and the Hornets got backstop from Owen Johnson and Kody Harmon scored to cut the deficit to 31-21 but Braden Schreck’s layup before the end of the half at 33-21.

Cotton and Schreck had back-to-back layups in the third quarter to open up a 40-25 lead. Schreck’s basket tied him with Gagai and his layup late in the quarter put Ironton up 45-30.

Brayden Klaiber made 2 foul shots for the Hornets but Schreck sank a free throw to end the quarter and Ironton led 46-32.

Cotton’s 3-pointer play and a layup by Markel off a nice pass from Braylon Sturgill gave Ironton a 51-32 lead.

Chaffins 3-pointer had the deficit at 51-36 but Ironton went on a 11-0 run with Schreck scoring 9 of the points and settling the outcome.

Ironton    21 12 13 17 = 63

Coal Grove 10 11 11 7 = 39

IRONTON (11-6, 8-3): Braylon Sturgill 0 0 0-0 0, Carson Freeman 1 0 0-0 2, Bryce Markins 0 0 0-0 0, Judah Barnes 1 0 0-0 2, Tyler Roach 1 1 0-0 5, Markel Cotton 6 1 2-4 17, Maddix Markel 5 0 1-2 11, Brycen Mullins 0 0 0-0 0, Braden Schreck 9 1 5-9 26, Kayden Edwards 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 26-48 8-15 63. 3-pt goals: 3-8. Rebounds: 4-O 24-D = 28 (Cotton 10, Schreck 6, Markel 5). Assists: 14 (Schreck 5). Steals: 8 (Schreck 3, Barnes 2, Markins 2). Blocks: 2 (Cotton, Markel). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 15. Fouled outL None.

COAL GROVE (8-12, 3-11): Bronson Guy 0 0 0-0 0, Rylan Smith 1 1 1-1 6, Braydon Klaiber 0 0 4-6 4, Bradley Klaiber 0 0 0-0 0, Peyton Bryant 0 0 0-0 0, Kody Harmon 6 0 1-2 13, Cameryn Chaffins 1 2 1-2 9, Jake Brammer 0 0 0-0 0, Owen Johnson 2 0 1-3 5, Chayce Murphy 1 0 0-0 2, J Dome 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-48 8-14 39. 3-pt goals: 3-18. Rebounds: 5-O 18-D = 23. Assists: 3. Steals: 6. Blocks: 2. Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.