By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

MANCHESTER — Being short-handed left the Ironton Fighting Tigers on the short end.

Without two starters to begin the game and leading scorer Zac Carter not playing in the second half, Ironton was guilty of 22 turnovers in a 61-57 loss to the Manchester Greyhounds Friday.

“I don’t care who is playing or who isn’t playing. If you turn the ball over 22 times, you’re probably going to get beat,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon.

Trey Fletcher had 22 points and nine rebounds while Travis Elliott scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Ironton (12-6), but it wasn’t enough to overcome no points from Carter and the loss of point guard Malcolm Morton and forward Trevor White who did not make the trip.

Fletcher had eight points in the first quarter as Ironton took a 14-10 lead.

Manchester (16-3) got within 14-13 at the start of the second quarter, but Josh Murphy made two foul shots and Josh Glover scored to put Ironton up 24-16.

The Greyhounds closed the gap to 26-23 when Elliott’s 3-point play with 10 seconds to go in the half gave Ironton a 29-23 lead.

Fletcher and Glover scored to extend Ironton’s lead to 33-25 in the third quarter, but turnovers by Ironton enabled the Greyhounds to rally and take a 42-40 lead at the end of the quarter.

Fletcher drained a pair of 3-pointers as Ironton regained the lead at 48-45 with 6:24 to play.

Manchester went on a 9-2 run to lead 54-50 when Nick Culbertson scored to cut the deficit to 54-52.

The Greyhounds got back-to-back baskets to lead 58-54 and then Elliott nailed a trifecta as Ironton got within 60-57.

Manchester sank just one of three free throw attempts in the final seconds, but Ironton couldn’t convert on its end and the Greyhounds’ lead stood up for the win.

Travis Combs had 17 points and 6-foot-6 Blake Blevins 14 to lead four players in double figures for Manchester. Dalton West scored 13 and Dylan Ricketts 10.

Ironton plays its final home game Tuesday against Huntington (W.Va.) Prep Academy.

Ironton 14 15 11 17 = 57

Manchester 10 13 19 19 = 61

IRONTON (12-6): Travis Elliott 4 2 1-2 15, Zac Carter 0 0 0-0 0, Trey Fletcher 8 2 0-0 22, Josh Murphy 0 0 2-2 2, Nick Culbertson 3 0 0-2 6, Tanner Dutey 0 0 0-0 0, Josh Glover 3 0 0-0 6, Nolan Johnson 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 25-50 3-6 57. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 9 offense, 23 defense = 32 (Fletcher 9, Elliott 8, Murphy 6, Culbertson 5). Assists: 13 (Carter 3, Johnson 3, Elliott 2, Glover 2). Steals: 1 (Elliott). Turnovers: 22.

MANCHESTER (16-3): Dylan Ricketts 5 0 0-0 10, Josh Ross 0 0 0-0 0, Travis Combs 5 2 1-2 17, Blake Blevins 5 1 1-2 14, McKenzie Smith 2 1 0-0 7, Kyle Adams 0 0 0-0 0, Dalton West 2 2 3-5 13. Totals: 25-62 5-9 61. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 6-20. Rebounds: 11 offense, 9 defense = 20 (West 9, Blevins 4). Assists: 12 (West 5, Ricketts 3). Steals: 9 (Smith 3, Ricketts 3). Turnovers: 5.