By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

The Ironton Fighting Tigers were in the zone Saturday night.

And then they were out and then the zoned in again and on and on and on.

Ironton’s outside shooting was inconsistent at times but it was still good enough to beat the Wheelersburg Pirates and their zone defense 67-60.

“Their zone kind of bothered us but we didn’t have Ashton (Layne). He does a good job versus the zone and tonight we missed him,” Ironton coach Chris Barnes.

“And this is a rivalry game. Both teams played hard. It might not have been pretty, but a win is a win.”

Braden Schreck led Ironton with 18 points including a pair of 3-pointers. Bryce Martins hit two 3-pointers as he scored 13 points with Judah Barnes and Tyler Roach both adding a pair of 3-pointers.

Braylon Rucker scored 22 points and Xavier Miller had 12 points to pace Wheelersburg (7-11).

“I told (Markins) before the game they play zone and he’d have some opportunities and I was hoping he could take advantage of it and he did,” said Barnes.

“Judah and Markel had good games and it was good to see Bryce score and (Carson) Freeman did a nice defensive job late on Rucker.”

The Pirates were up 5-4 early but a layup by Schreck gave Ironton the lead at 6-5. Miller hit a 3-pointer as Wheelersburg took its last lead at 14-13. Barnes hit a 3-pointer and Miller a layup and the game was 16-all to end the first quarter.

Maddix Markel converted a 3-pointer play and Markins buried a 3-pointer to start the second quarter and Ironton had the lead for good at 22-16.

Schreck’s turnaround jumper gave Ironton its biggest lead of the half at 27-20 but a layup by Miller just before the buzzer made it 29-24 at the half.

A layup by Xander Mowery got the Pirates within 31-30 before back to back 3-pointers by Tyler Roach and a layup by Schreck opened up a 41-31 lead.

Schreck’s trifecta put Ironton up 49-38 only to have Landon McGraw hit a trey as the Pirates cut the deficit to 49-41 to end the third quarter.

Mowery had a layup that had the Pirates down 55-51 but they could get no closer as Freeman hit a big 3-pointer and Colton followed with a layup for a 60-51 lead.

Markins was 5 of 6 from the foul line down the stretch for a 65-57 lead with 14 seconds to play.

Wheelersburg 16 8 17 19 = 60

Ironton         16 13 20 18 = 67

WHEELERSBURG (7-11): Braylon Rucker 7 2 2-5 22, Hunter Bivens 0 0 0-0 0, Xander Mowery 4 0 0-2 8, Xavier Miller 3 2 0-0 12, Kenyon Evans 2 0 0-2 4, Kayson Whitt 2 0 1-2 5, Jack Doerr 1 0 0-0 2, Landon McGraw 2 1 0-0 7, Cameron Chamberlin 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 2-47 3-11. 3-pt goals: 5-19. Rebounds: 4-O 17-D = 21. Assists: 14. Steals: 4. Turnovers: 8. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (12-8): Bryce Markins 1 2 5-6 13, Judah Barnes 0 2 0-0 6, Markel Cotton 4 0 2-2 10, Maddix Markel 4 0 1-1 9, Braden Schreck 6 2 0-3 18, Carson Freeman 1 1 0-0 5, Tyler Roach 0 2 0-0 6. Totals: 25-48 8-12 67. 3-pt goals: 9-23. Rebounds: 5-O 16-D = 21 (Cotton 6, Barnes 5, Schreck4). Assists: 15 (Schreck 6Barnes 3, Roach 2). Steals: 4 (Barnes 3). Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.