Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — They should have played this game outside. As hot as the Portsmouth Trojans were shooting, the ice on the roads would be melted throughout the entire city.

Portsmouth was 28-of-54 from the field for 52 percent and an amazing 11-of-18 from behind the 3-point arc for 61 percent as they beat the Ironton Fighting Tigers 71-40 on Thursday.

Ironton coach Mark LaFon didn’t want to use Portsmouth’s shooting as an excuse.

“I just think we didn’t come to prepared to play tonight,” said LaFon.

Portsmouth (14-3) was led by their trio of guards. Isaiah Lisath scored 20, Ky’re Allison had 14 and Sky Oliver 10. The trio combined for eight 3-point goals including four by Lisath.

Tristan Cox scored 11 points for Ironton (1-17). Joe Bowling added eight points and seven rebounds.

Portsmouth opened the game with an 11-0 run by hitting 5-of-5 field goal attempts.

Marques Davis hit a jumper to end the run and Bowling made two straight shots as Ironton got within 11-6, but a 3-pointer by Isaiah Lisath and a putback by Alex Dickerson put Portsmouth up 19-10 at the end of the quarter.

Allison hit a triple and Dickerson had another follow up shot the made it 29-16 and a basket by Allison gave Portsmouth its biggest lead at 33-18.

Cox hit a 3-pointer and a layup to close the half as Ironton cut the deficit to 33-23 at the half.

Just as the first half began with an 11-point difference, so did the second half as the Trojans went on a 13-2 run and the lead was 46-25.

Bowling made a 13-footer and Lucas Campbell had a layup to cut the spread to 46-29, but Oliver had a layup ahd Allison buried another triple as Portsmouth built a 53-31 lead at the end of the quarter.

The Trojans outscored Ironton 13-2 to begin the fourth quarter including three straight 3-pointers and it was 66-33.

Ironton plays at Spring Valley, W.Va., on Saturday.

 

Ironton 10 13 8 9 = 40

Portsmouth 19 14 20 18 = 71

IRONTON (1-17):Tristan Cox 3 1 2-3 11, Joe Bowling 4 0 0-0 8, Phillip Kratzenberg 0 1 1-2 4, Desmond Young 1 0 0-0 2, Isaac Sherman 1 0 0-2 2, Richard Crockrel 0 0 0-0 0, Marques Davis 1 0 0-0 2, Nate Garred 0 0 0-0 0, Lucas Campbell 3 0 0-0 6, Chad Garris 0 0 0-0 0, Joe Matkins 0 0 0-0 0, Logan Gleichauf 2 0 1-1 5, Charles Scott 0 0 0-0 0, Hunter Klaiber 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-44 4-8 40. 3-point goals: 2-10. Rebounds: 6-OR, 18-DR = 24 (Bowling 8, Sherman 4). Team/deadball rebounds: 4. Assists: 13. Steals: 5. Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH (14-3): Sky Oliver 1 2 2-2 10, Isaiah Lisath 4 4 0-0 20, Ky’re Allison 3 2 2-2 14, Hunter Gibson 2 0 0-2 4, Luke Purdy 1 0 0-0 2, Khalil Lattimore 1 2 0-0 8, Alex Dickerson 2 0 0-0 4, Micah Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Zach DeLotell 1 0 0-1 2, Alex Grashel 1 0 0-0 2, Kendall Reynolds 1 1 0-0 5. Totals: 28-54 4-7 71. 3-point goals: 11-18. Rebounds: 9-OR, 22-DR = 31 (Dickerson 5). Assists: 24. Steals: 12. Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.