By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — The offense was there. The defense seemed to be everywhere.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers used a swarming defense to turn back the Portsmouth Trojans 69-44 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Tuesday.

“The defense was really good tonight,” said Ironton coach Chris Barnes. “

Portsmouth was just 20 of 52 for 38 percent from the floor including 4 of 18 from behind the arc. The Trojans also committed 17 turnovers.

“We had a lot of pressure on the ball and when they were shooting,” said Barnes. “I thought we played really hard. Portsmouth isn’t a bad team and they played hard.”

Braden Schreck and Ashton Layne scored 6 points each as Ironton took a 21-11 first quarter lead.

Kaleb Johnson scored 6 of the Trojans’ points.

Portsmouth trailed 29-20 when Schreck converted a 3-point play and Tyler Roach made a layup and it was 34-22.

Schreck knocked down an 18-footer and then made a layup off a pass from Judah Barnes and it was 38-22 at the half.

Ironton opened up a 45-25 lead on two free throws by Layne with 4:57 left in the third quarter.

Malachi Loper hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points while Johnson added 4 points and the Trojans were down 46-31 with 2:37 on the clock.

But Schreck hit a pair of 18-foot jumpers, Layne and Schreck made layups and Maddix Markell hit Cotton with a pass inside for a layup just as the buzzer sounded and the Fighting Tigers now led 56-33.

Ironton put the game away for good in the fourth quarter.

A 3-point play by Roach and four straight baskets from Schreck, Layne and two by Braylon Sturgill opened up a 67-38 lead with 2:30 left to play which was Ironton’s biggest lead of the game.

Schreck finished the game with 26 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and a blocked shot.

Layne had 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and a block, and Roach finished with 13 points.

Loper had 13 points, Johnson 12 points and Dai’ Quan Woods added 10 for the Trojans.

The Trojans had two unique statistics. They scored 11 points in each quarter and they did not attempt a free throw.

Ironton    21 17 18 13 = 69

Portsmouth 11 11 11 11 = 44

IRONTON (6-4, 5-1): Ashton Layne 5 0 2-4 12, Braylon Sturgill 2 0 1-2 5, Carson Freeman 0 0 0-0 0, Bryce Martins 2 0 0-0 4, Judah Barnes 0 0 0-0 0, Tyler Roach 3 2 1-1 13, Markel Cotton 2 1 0-0 7, Maddix Markel 0 0 0-0 0, Brycen Mullins 1 0 0-0 2, Braden Schreck 12 0 2-3 26, Kayden Edwards 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 30-60 6-10 69. 3-pt goals: 3-19. Rebounds: 15-O 17-D = 32 (Layne 8, Cotton 8, Schreck 5). Assists: 18 (Schreck 5, Markel 3). Steals: 10 (Markins 3, Layne 2). Blocks: 3 (Schreck, Layne, Mullins). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH (6-8, 3-4): Connie Thomas 0 0 0-0 0, Dae’Quan Woods 5 0 0-0 10, Malachi Loper 2 3 0-0 13, Landon Malone 1 0 0-0 2, Tyson Craft 1 0 0-0 2, Kaleb Johnson 6 0 0-0 12, Jayden Brewer 1 1 0-0 5. Totals: 20-52 0-0 44. 3-pt goals: 4-18. Rebounds: O-10 12-D = 22 (Johnson 8). Assists: 7. Steals: 5. Blocks; 1. Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: Johnson (4th 1:58).