JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

The Ironton Fighting Tigers needed to get out of the school zone and get on the highway.

Chesapeake controlled the game’s tempo in the first half but Ironton was able to get his foot on the gas and speed the game up as they beat the Panthers 53-41 on Tuesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“The press was the difference. “In the first quarter we played great defense but we gave up five offensive rebounds. They had points all on offensive baskets,” said Ironton coach Chris Barnes.

“The second half we did a better job (on the boards) and we turned the pressure up. It kind of sped them up and it got us going. To beat Chesapeake by 13 is like beating someone else by 25 points. They are hard to play against. They run their offense at half court and they make you come out and guard.”

Chesapeake (1-1, 0-1) led 12-10 at the end of the first quarter after a putback by Philip Thacker and a foul shot by Kaiden Perkins.

Braden Schreck’s layup tied the game at 14 and the Panthers’ Dannie Maynard hit a foul shot that tied the game at 18 with just 8 seconds left in the half.

But Bailey Thacker hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer that put Ironton up 21-18 at the half.

A layup by Braxton Oldaker got the Panthers within 25-24 with 4:46 left in the third quarter.

Schreck made a layup and a 10-footer and another layup and Markel Cotton’s outback opened up a 33-23 lead with 2:25 on the clock.

Maddox Kazee sank 2 foul shots for the Panther to halt the run but Schreck converted a 3-point play.

Ethan Kerns hit a trey for the Panthers but Cotton made a layup thanks to a pass from Shaun Terry just before the end of the quarter and Ironton was up 38-29.

Terry hit back-to-back trifectas to start the fourth quarter and Ironton had opened up a 44-29 lead with 6:46 to play.

“Yesterday was the first time Shaun has practiced since he was injured. He missed all of our scrimmages. You could tell he was rusty, but when we needed a run, he hit two huge 3s. And Braden does what Braden does,” said coach Barnes.

Schreck had a game-high 17 points along with 3 assists and 2 steals. Terry got 13 points before fouling out with 5:16 to play. Ashton Layne had 11 points, 3 assists and 3 blocks while Bailey Thacker grabbed 10 rebounds and had 2 blocked shots.

“What about Ashton Layne for a freshman? His blocks are spectacular. He runs the floor, he finishes around the rim, he changes shots and when you put him in there with Bailey (Thacker), that’s quite a tandem,” said coach Barnes.

Kazee scored 10 points and Kerns got 9 to lead the Panthers.

On Friday, Ironton goes to Coal Grove while Chesapeake hosts South Point.

Chesapeake    12 6 11 12 = 41

Ironton     10 11 17 15 = 53

CHESAPEAKE (1-1, 0-1): Ethan Kerns 1 2 1-2 9, Drew Plantz 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Cox 3 0 0-0 6, Kaden Perkins 0 0 1-2 1, Dannie Maynard 1 0 1-2 3, Kaiden Harris 0 0 2-4 2, Philip Thacker 1 1 1-2 6, Maddox Kazee 2 1 3-4 10, Braxton Oldaker 1 0 0-0 2, Jacob Skeens 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 14-46 9-16 41. 3-pt goals: 4-15. Rebounds: O-8, D-21 = 29. Assists: 5. Steals: 4. Blocks: 1. Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (2-0, 1-0): Braden Schreck 7 0 3-3 17, Shaun Terry 1 3 2-5 13, Ashton Layne 5 0 1-2 11, Markel Cotton 2 0 1-2 5, Bailey Thacker 0 1 2-2 5, Tyler Roach 1 0 0-0 2, Braylon Sturgill 0 0 0-0 0, Bryce Markins 0 0 0-0 0, Quentin Rodehaver 0-0 0-0 0, Judah Barnes 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-44 9-14 53. 3-pt goals: 4-10. Rebounds: O-5, D-18 = 23 (Thacker 10). Assists: 13 (Schreck 3, Layne 3). Steals: 6 (Schreck 2, Thacker 2). Blocks: 6 (Layne 3, Thacker 2). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Terry (4th 5:16).