Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

There was an older novel made into a movie by the same title, “The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight.”

The Ironton Fighting Tigers did a remake of the film on Sunday at the Ironton Classic.

Ironton struggled through an 11-for-40 night from the field and just 8-of-18 at the foul line in a 44-30 loss to the unbeaten Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans.

Another problem for the Fighting Tigers was in the rebounding department. The Titans had a commanding 39-23 advantage on the glass as Will Toleman grabbed 9 rebounds to go with 10 points.

Dakota Smith added 10 points for the Titans (7-0).

Tristan Cox scored 10 points for the Fighting Tigers (0-5). Nate Garred had 7 points, 2 steals and 2 assists.

Ironton lead 4-3 at the 6:03 mark on a 15-footer by Desmond Young. But the Fighting Tigers didn’t score again until Cox made two free throws with 3:34 left in the half and they trailed 17-6.

Two free throws by Garred and a 17-footer by Cox cut the gap to 17-12 with 1:09 to go in the second quarter. The Titans connected on four free throws to one by Cox and led 21-13 at the break.

Young’s layup to begin the second half got Ironton within 21-15, but Smith hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Toleman converted a 3-point play and suddenly the Titans led 30-15 at the 4:18 mark.

A putback by Charles Scott left Ironton down 32-20 just before the end of the quarter.

Isaac Sherman made a layup with 6:15 to play and Ironton trailed 33-23. Notre Dame then went on an 8-2 run took a comfortable 41-25 lead with four minutes to play.

Ironton plays Grant County at 8:30 p.m. Friday in the Ashland Invitational.

Notre Dame 9 12 11 12 = 44

Ironton 4 9 7 10 = 30

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (7-0): Dakota Smith 0 2 4-8 10, Jack Kayser 0 0 2-3 2, Will Haney 0 0 3-4 3, Trevon Turner 1 1 3-4 8, Daniel Ogg 1 0 1-1 3, Will Toleman 3 0 5-9 11, C.J. Smith 1 1 0-0 5, Hayden Phillips 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Medley 0 0 0-0 0, Hattachai Buttayotee 0 0 0-0 0, Jonathan Major 0 0 0-0 0, Tyson Montgomery 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-32 18-29 44. 3-point goals: 4-12. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 9-OR, 30-DR = 39 (Toleman 9, Ogg 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 6. Assists: 3. Steals: 9 (Kayser 2, Haney 2, Turner 2). Turnovers: 22.

IRONTON (0-5): Nate Garred 2 0 3-4 7, Tristan Cox 3 0 4-7 10, Richard Crockrel 0 0 0-0 0, Desmond Young 2 0 1-4 5, Isaac Sherman 2 0 0-0 4, Lucas Campbell 0 0 0-0 0, Hunter Klaiber 0 0 0-0 0, Hunter Scott 0 0 0-0 0, Charles Scott 1 0 0-0 2, Marques Davis 0 0 0-4 0, Logan Gleichauf 0 0 0-0 0, Joe Matkins 1 0 0-0 2, Chad Garris 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-40 8-18 30. 3-point goals: 0-10. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Campbell (4th 4:49). Rebounds: 7-OR, 16-DR = 23 (Sherman 3, Klaiber 3). Team/deadball rebounds: 6. Assists: 6 (Garred 2). Steals: 11 (Young 2, Cox 2, Garred 2). Turnovers: 13.