Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SPRING VALLEY, W.Va. — Maybe size doesn’t matter.

The Flora Macdonald Academy Cougars’ front line featured 6-foot-9 Forrest Johnson and Finno Davis, 6-8 Rasheed Anthony and Jared Scott and 6-5 Ashanti Day.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers countered with 6-6 Trey Fletcher and 6-4 Trevor White and Aaron Stephens.

Hmmm. Doesn’t sound good for the local guys. Or does it?

The Cougars only out-rebounded Ironton 28-24 and the Fighting Tigers used their balance to help spark a 52-37 upset win Friday in the Huntington Prep Classic.

Ironton coach Mark LaFon praised his team for not only its team play but its grit as well.

“Our kids were very patient on offense. They shared the ball. They were going to try to take Zac (Carter) away and he shared it,” said LaFon.

“Trey came up big at the right time. The thing that was the most impressive — and his 3-pointers were big — but it was the way he just battled inside.”

Fletcher had 20 points — all in the first half —and grabbed 6 rebounds. He sat out most of the third quarter in foul trouble.

Carter scored 14 points and is now just 45 points shy of the school’s all-time scoring record. White had 13 points — all in the second half — and pulled down 5 rebounds. Stephens also had 5 rebounds.

Flora Macdonald (8-9) was led by Scott with 17.

The Cougars were just 15 of 45 from the field for 33 percent. Ironton limited the prep academy to only two field goals in the third quarter and six in the second half.

The Fighting Tigers (14-2) took a 10-4 lead as Fletcher scored 7 points, but the Cougars came back to tie the game 10-10 on a jumper by Scott with 32 seconds left in the quarter.

Scott made two foul shots to begin the second quarter that put the Cougars ahead 12-10, their only lead of the game.

Fletcher answered with a 3-pointer and then a 3-point play. After a triple by Scott, Fletcher hit a baseline shot and a trifecta and it was 21-15.

A trey by Tristan Cox put Ironton up 24-17 and Fletcher scored off a nice pass from Carter as Ironton went up 26-21 at the break.

White’s 12-footer began the second half only to have Anthony counter with a 3-pointer.

Fletcher went out with three fouls but Carter took over with a 3-point play and a 3-pointer. Stephens made a nice move inside to score and White scored 6 straight points as Ironton opened up a 42-24 lead

A 3-pointer by Scott at the buzzer was only the second field goal of the quarter for the Cougars and it was 42-27.

Carter answered with a 3-pointer of his own to start the fourth quarter. Ironton went on an 8-2 run to begin the fourth quarter and two free throws by White with 5:10 left gave the Fighting Tigers their biggest lead of the game at 50-29.

Flora Macdonald — who lost to No. 17 nationally ranked Oak Hill Academy in overtime — was missing point guard Darren Williams with a broken hand.

The Cougars are the defending Class A champions in North Carolina but had the title stripped for recruiting violations.

“Ironton kids are tough kids and they always look at these teams as a challenge. This bunch of kids is just feeding off the (Ironton) tradition,” said LaFon.

The Fighting Tigers host Wheelersburg on Tuesday.

Ironton 10 16 16 10 = 52

Flora 10 11 6 10 = 37

IRONTON (14-2): Zac Carter 1 3 3-3 14, Josh Glover 0 0 0-0 0, Trevor White 3 0 7-8 13, Trey Fletcher 6 2 2-3 20, Joe Bowling 0 0 0-0 0, Tristan Cox 0 1 0-0 3, Jake Long 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-41 12-14 52. 3-point goals: 6-13. Rebounds: 5 offense, 19 defense = 24 (Fletcher 6, White 5, Stephens 5). Team rebounds: 2. Assists: 9 (Glover 4, Fletcher 3). Steals: 6 (Carter 4). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.

FLORA MACDONALD (8-9): Richie Lewis 2 0 0-0 4, Forrest Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Finno Davis 1 0 0-0 2, Jared Scott 1 0 0-0 2, Ashanti Day 2 0 1-1 5, Rasheed Anthony 3 1 0-0 9, Darius Dahmer 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-45 3-3 37. 3-point goals: 4-16. Rebounds: 10-18=28 (Anthony 8). Team rebounds: 5. Assists: 2. Steals: 5 (Scott 2, Jackson 2). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.