Effeciency.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers used a patient offense and smothering defense to beat the Waverly Tigers 58-51 on Monday in the 7th annual Ironton Classic.

Ironton continually worked its offense for a good shot and got inside on the Waverly defense. Ironton was 16 of 30 from the field and converted 27 of 39 free throws.

Tristan Cox had 17 points and 8 rebounds for Ironton (2-2). Joe Bowling had 16 points and 3 steals while Desmond Young finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.

Waverly — 7 of 16 from the 3-point line — was led by Jake Henderson with 11 points.

The Fighting Tigers went on an 11-0 run to start the game and forced Waverly to play catch up the rest of the game. Young had 8 points in the first quarter as Ironton took a 13-5 lead.

Henderson and Jace Harris hit 3-pointers in the second quarter as Waverly trailed 22-15 at the break.

Ironton opened up a 38-28 lead on a free throw by Phillip Kratzenberg with 1:13 left in the third quarter.

A putback by Mason Chapman got Waverly within 38-30.

The Fighting Tigers built a 49-33 lead with 4:53 left thanks to a 7-0 run that including a steal and layup by Marques Davis.

Waverly began to put Ironton at the foul line and the Fighting Tigers converted 12 of 16 attempts.

Waverly 5 10 15 21 = 51

Ironton  13 9 16 20 = 58

WAVERLY: Cade Marquez 0 0 4-4 4, Trey Rigsby 1 0 1-2 3, Mason Chapman 3 0 2-2 8, Jake Henderson 2 1 4-5 11, Ethan Adrian 1 1 1-1 6, Jace Harris 1 2 0-0 8, Tariq Gilbert 1 0 0-0 2, Bailey Pennington 0 1 0-0 3, Joe Henderson 0 2 0-0 6, R.J. Perkins 0 0 0-0 0, Clayton Howell 0 0 0-0 0, Drew Harris 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-47 12-14 51. 3-point goal: 7-16 51. Rebounds: 10-O, 19-D = 29 (Chapman 9). Team rebounds: 2. Assists: 3. Steals: 8 Ja. Henderson 2, Adrian 2). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: none.

IRONTON (2-2): Phillip Kratzenberg 0 1 6-8 9, Joe Bowling 6 0 4-4 16. Tristan Cox 3 0 11-17 17, Marques Davis 1 0 0-0 2, Desmond Young 5 0 2-26 12, Tanner Price 0 0 1-2 1, Jake Isaac 0 0 1-2 1, Mitchel Weisgarber 0 0 0-0 0. Total: 16-30 27-39 58. 3-point goals: 1-4. Rebounds: 6-O, 20-D = 26 (Cox 8, Young 6). Team rebounds: 3. Assists: 8 (Kratzenberg 3, Cox 2, Bowling 2). Steals: 10 (Bowling 3, Young 3). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.