By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

The winning formula Ironton was using didn’t seem to be working.

But it didn’t matter. The Fighting Tigers found a way to win anyway.

Ironton head coach Chris Barnes reflected on his team’s winning formula failing but how the team still came away with the Ohio Valley Conference 81-68 win on Saturday.

“We had three 20 point leads and let them get down to 12 really fast. For some reason it didn’t mesh tonight. When the starters were in, we’d build the lead,” said Ironton Barnes.

“But I’m not blaming the bench. It wasn’t their fault. Our bench has played a big role all season. No matter who is in the game, we have to make it work.”

Braden Schreck led Ironton with a season-high 32 points to go with 8 assists. Markel Cotton had 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.

Owen Johnson scored 332 points to lead the Hornets. Bradley Kaliber added 10 points.

The game was tied once at 2-2 but then Schreck scored 4 points and fed Cotton for a layup and it was 8-2.

Coal Grove trailed 11-8 after a 3-pointer by Johnson but Judah Barnes hit a 3-pointer, Tyler Roach sank a free throw, Schreck and Markel had layups and the lead was 19-9.

Jake Brammer hit a trey for the Hornets and Roach answered with a 3-pointer and it was 23-12. Johnson’s layup made it 24-14 at the end of the quarter.

Ironton went on a 9-0 run to start the second quarter and the lead grew to 33-14 with 5:18.

A 3-point play by Schreck pushed the lead to 42-20 but the Hornets went on an 8-2 run to end the half and it was 44-28.

Johnson’s layup got Coal Grove within 48-33 but Bryce Markins hit a 3-pointer and Schreck a layup and it was 53-33 with 4:50 on the clock.

But Klaiber’s putback, Noah Holmes layup and Johnson’s 3-pointer to trigger a 10-1 run and it was 54-43 at the end of the quarter.

A free throw by Schreck — his career point 1,500 — put Ironton up 59-43 but a steal and layup byJohnson got the Hornets within 61-48.

Schreck had a steal and layup that put Ironton ahead 67-48.

But Coal Grove battled back and used a putback by Holmes and basket by Cameryn Chaffins to cut the spread to 75-67 with  56 seconds to play.

But Schreck was 4 of 4 at the foul line and Layne made a layup as Ironton built back up the lead.

Schreck was 7 of 8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter as he scored 11 points. Johnson scored 11 points in the quarter for Coal Grove.

“We didn’t shoot the ball that well tonight after the way we shot  last night and we had way too many turnovers,” said Barnes.

“We knew they wouldn’t quit. Coal Grove never quits. But we just didn’t put them away.”

Ironton will host Fairland on Tuesday in a pivotal OVC game.

Coal Grove will host Rock Hill on Monday and visit Portsmouth on Tuesday.

Coal Grove 14 14 15 25 = 68

Ironton  24 20 10 27 = 81

COAL GROVE (5-9, 1-8): Noah Holmes 3 0 2-3 8, Rylan Smith 1 0 2-2 4, Braylon Klaiber 2 0 0-0 4, Bradley Klaiber 5 0 0-0 10, Cameryn Chaffins 1 0 0-0 2, Jake Brammer 2 1 1-4 8, Owen Johnson 9 3 3-5 32. Totals: 27-49 10-18 68. 3-pt goals: 4-11. Rebounds: 6-O 17-D = 23. Assists: 9. Steals: 5. Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (8-4, 7-1): Ashton Layne 3 0 3-4 9, Braylon Sturgill 0 0 0-0 0, Carson Freeman 0 0 2-2 2, Bryce Martins 0 2 0-0 6, Judah Barnes 1 1 0-2 5, Tyler Roach 0 2 1-2 7, Markel Cotton 4 0 3-3 11, Maddix Markel 4 0 1-1 9, Braden Schreck 9 1 6-11 32. Totals: 27-50 21-30 81. 3-pt goals: 6-15. Rebounds: 4-O 14-D = 18 (Cotton 6, Barnes 6). Assists: 22 (Schreck 8, Markel 4, Layne 3). Steals: 12 (Barnes 3, Cotton 3). Blocks: 4 (Layne 3). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.