Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

MIAMI, Fla. — So that’s why they’re the defending state champions.

Hialeah Gardens shot 67 percent from the field in the first half and forced Ironton into 14 turnovers en route to a 20-point halftime lead. The big lead was enough to give the Gladiators a 74-56 win over the Fighting Tigers in the quarterfinals of the Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.

Although the Gladiators had a red-hot start, Ironton coach Mark LaFon said his team had to shoulder part of the blame.

“We didn’t do our job matching their physicality,” said LaFon. “We just played a very good basketball team, no doubt. They have long arms and get in passing lanes, but we helped that a lot. We didn’t play well and we didn’t take care of the ball.”

The Gladiators hit 12 of 16 shots in the first quarter as they opened up a 26-12 lead. They shot 20 of 30 for the half to go with Ironton’s flood of turnovers.

Ironton (5-1) was led by Zac Carter had 24 points and Trey Fletcher with 22 points.

Adrian Gonzalez — who leads his team with 23 points per game scoring average — scored 26 points including 16 points in the first half. Alvaro Simoza scored 18 points and Luis Huertas had 15 points.

The Gladiators jumped out to an 8-0 lead and led 26-10 on a layup by Gonzalez with 42 seconds on the clock. Carter’s layup just before the buzzer made it 26-12.

Ironton got within 32-17 on a 3-point play by Fletcher, but a 3-pointer by Josh Sanchez and two free throws by Simoza made it 45-25 at the half.

The Fighting Tigers managed to cut the deficit to 64-47 on two technical free throws, but they would get no closer.

Ironton was xx-xx from the field and failed to connect on their 10 3-point goal attempts.

Hialeah Gardens (11-3) is the defending Class 8-A state champions. Florida has eight classifications with 8-A the largest.

Ironton plays at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Ironton 12 13 15 16 = 56

Hialeah 26 19 14 15 = 74

IRONTON (5-1): Zac Carter 9 0 6-8 24, Josh Glover 1 0 0-0 2, Trevor White 2 0 0-0 4, Trey Fletcher 6 0 10-10 22, Aaron Stephens 2 0 0-0 4, Darrius Boykin 0 0 0-0 0, Joe Bowling 0 0 0-0 0, Tristan Cox 0 0 0-0 0, Isaac Sherman 0 0 0-2 0. Totals: 20 16-20 56. 3-point goals: 0-10. Rebounds: 4-13=17 (White 6, Stephens 3). Team rebounds: 4. Assists: 6 (Carter 4). Steals: 6 (Carter 3). Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

HIALEAH GARDENS (11-3): Josh Sanchez 2 1 0-0 7, Luis Huertas 2 3 2-4 15, Adrian Gonzalez 11 1 1-2 26, Alvaro Simoza 5 0 8-9 18, Henry Leonardo 4 0 0-0 8, Dyllan Frye 0 0 0-0 0, Ariel Vasquez 0 0 0-0 0, Abraham Kurnich 0 0 0-0 0, Abel Scilingo 0 0 0-1 0, Monty Martin 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 5 11-17 74. 3-point goals: 5-12. Rebounds: 12-17=29 (Simoza 8, Leonardo 6). Team rebounds: 1. Assists: 4. Steals: 5. Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.