Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Pick your poison.

The Huntington Highlanders focused their defense on Zac Carter, but they paid close attention to Trevor White after his past two games in which he posted impressive double-doubles.

But those defense left the Highlanders vulnerable and Trey Fletcher made them pay with a season-high 27 points as the Div. III No. 7-ranked Ironton Fighting Tigers beat the Class AAA No. 8-ranked Highlanders 57-46 on Tuesday.

Fletcher also had 11 rebounds to go with his points. Carter still scored 22 points and had 5 steals and 3 assists.

In fact, Fletcher and Carter scored all of Ironton’s points over the first three quarters.

“Huntington has seen us a couple of times. They played a box-and-one on Zac and they were making sure they had someone one Trevor,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon.

“Sometimes they would leave Trey alone and we did a good job getting him the ball. When they focus on Trevor it allows Trey to do more. Trevor was a little frustrated, but he made three big plays at the end.”

Ironton led 11-4 at the end of the first quarter. Huntington got within 11-7 to begin the second quarter, but Ironton went on an 11-2 run to lead 22-9.

A 3-point play by Shaquan Miller got Huntington within 32-21, but a steal and 3-point goal by Carter at the buzzer gave Ironton a 35-21 cushion at the break.

“We’re happy to get a win. All road wins are great, especially against a great team,” said LaFon.

“We were fine on the offensive end until the third quarter and then it became a grind on offense. We played well defensively. We held them to nine halfway through the second quarter.”

Back-to-back baskets by Fletcher opened up a 39-21 lead to begin the second half, but hit three 3-point goals and cut the deficit to 47-38 at the end of the quarter.

White scored at the 7:25 mark of the fourth quarter for the first basket by an Ironton player other than Fletcher or Carter.

Jake Long’s jumper and a put-back by White gave Ironton a 53-38 lead with 2:45 to play.

Huntington finally scored with two minutes left on a layup by Chancelor Wooding, but White answered with his own layup to make it 55-40 and Ironton coasted the rest of the way.

Miller led Huntington (10-4) with 14 points. Arick Nicks grabbed 10 rebounds.

Ironton plays Flora Macdonald Prep Academy — the North Carolina Class 1-A state champions last season — at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in the Huntington Prep Classic at Spring Valley, W.Va., High School.

Tickets are on sale until 3 p.m. Friday at the Ironton High School Auto Shop and until 2 p.m. at Ironton City Hardware. Tickets are $6 in advance and $8 at the door.

Huntington St. Joe plays Scott County at 6 p.m. followed by Ironton’s game and then Huntington Prep and Oldsmar Christian (FL.) at 9 p.m.

Ironton 11 24 12 10 = 57

Huntington 4 17 17 8 = 46

IRONTON (13-2): Zac Carter 4 3 5-6 22, Josh Glover 0 0 0-0 0, Trevor White 3 0 0-0 6, Trey Fletcher 7 3 4-7 27, Aaron Stephens 0 0 0-0 0, Tristan Cox 0 0 0-0 0, Joe Bowling 0 0 0-0 0, Jake Long 1 0 0-0 2, Nate Garred 0 0 0-0 0, Jalen Schweickart 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-43 9-13 57. 3-point goals: 6-9. Rebounds: 9-25=34 (Fletcher 11, White 5). Team rebounds: 6. Assists: 7 (Carter 3, Glover 2). Steals: 10 (Carter 5, Fletcher 3). Turnovers: 20. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Glover (4th 0:54).

HUNTINGTON (10-4): Shaquan Miller 2 3 1-1 14, Nick Tubbs 1 0 4-8 6, Arick Nick 2 0 3-7 7 Chancelor Wooding 4 0 0-1 8, Nathan Demoss 1 0 0-0 2, Tavian Dunn-Martin 0 2 0-0 6, Anthony Meadows 0 0 0-0 0, Charles Mann 0 0 0-0 0, Jeffrey Howard 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 16-49 8-17 46. 3-point goals: 6-25. Rebounds: 13-16=29 (Nicks 10). Assists: 4 (Tubbs 30. Steals: 5 (Demoss 2, Nicks 2). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Nicks (4th 3:21).