Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

LEWIS CENTER — The Olentangy Braves are a team that lives by the 3-pointer and dies by the 3-pointer.

Tuesday night, they were living the good life.

The Braves hit 18 of 30 of their 3-point attempts and built a big first half lead en route to beating the Ironton Fighting Tigers 84-41.

For the game, the Braves were 33 of 61 from the field 54 percent. To emphasize the Braves commitment to the long-range shot, they did not attempt a free throw.

Conversely, Ironton couldn’t hit from any range. The Fighting Tigers were just 15 of 50 from the field for 30 percent and converted 8 of 18 from the foul line.

Ryan Sieve scores 27 points — 24 in the first half — including five 3-pointers to lead Olentangy (3-3). Sieve had just eight total 3-pointers on the season.

Tristan Cox had 16 points for Ironton while Jake Isaac came off the bench to score 9 points and grave 5 rebounds.

Ironton (2-4) used 7 points by Cox to jump out to an 11-5 lead. But the Braves went on a 19-2 run triggered by four 3-pointers as they took a 24-13 lead.

Ironton finally scored on a layup by Desmond Young with seven seconds left and it was 24-15.

The Fighting Tigers were down 27-18 after a putback by Raphael Glover. Olentangy then scored 20 unanswered points including four 3-pointers.

Ironton didn’t score until Jake Isaac’s shot at the buzzer and it was 47-20 at the break.

Ironton was just 8 of 24 from the field in the first half and had 12 turnovers.

The hot-shooting continued in the third quarter as Olentangy hit 5 of 8 from behind the arc and outscored Ironton 23-9. The Fighting Tigers were 3 of 12 from the field in the quarter and had six more turnovers.

It proved to be just one of those nightmare game for the Fighting Tigers who average 12 turnovers a game but had 20 against the Braves. They also lost Joe Bowling to an ankle injury in the second quarter.

Ironton plays at Portsmouth on Friday. The freshman game is at 5 p.m. followed by the jayvees and varsity.

Ironton 15 5 9 12 = 41

Olentangy 24 23 23 14 = 84

IRONTON (2-4): Joe Bowling 1 0 2-4 4, Tanner Price 0 0 0-0 0, Tristan Cox 4 2 2-3 16, Marques Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Desmond Young 2 0 0-2 4, Jake Isaac 2 1 2-2 9, Raphael Glover 3 0 1-5 7, Phillip Kratzenberg 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 15-50 8-18 41. 3-point goals: 3-13. Rebounds: 12-O, 19-D = 31 (Isaac 5, Young 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Fouls: 5. Fouled out: None.

OLENTANGY (3-3): Christian Mazzeo 0 3 0-0 9, Ryan Sieve 6 5 0-0 27, Jimmy Gundlin 2 0 0-0 4, Seth O’Neal 3 0 0-0 6, Derrick Wyche 0 0 0-0 0, Brandon Mazzeo 1 0 0-0 2, Matt Forsythe 1 2 0-0 8, Austin Gossett 0 0 0-0 0, Jeff Darfus 0 2 0-0 6, Collin Mathews 0 2 0-0 6, Carter Kinnaird 0 2 0-0 6, Jason Sieve 1 1 0-0 5, Austin Luxeder 1 1 0-0 5. Totals: 33-61 0-0 84. 3-point goals: 18-30. Rebounds: 8-O, 24-D = 32 (Matthews 8, Wyche 7). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: B. Mazzeo.