Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

In the movie “Angels in the Outfield,” the character Ranch Wilder would tell his broadcast partner, “Less is more.”

That’s the way it was for the Coal Grove Hornets who took only 30 shots but hit 14 and converted their free throws in a 46-32 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Ironton Fighting Tigers on Friday.

The Hornets not only shot 47 percent from the field but also converted 13 of 21 form the foul line and 5 of 13 from behind the 3-point line.

Travis Carey had 12 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Hornets (5-7, 2-4). Brandon Adkins and Austin Pleasants added 11 points each. Adkins also had 6 rebounds.

Joe Bowling had 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals to lead Ironton. Tristan Cox scored 9 points as he sat out nearly three quarters of the game in foul trouble.

The Fighting Tigers (4-7, 2-3) struggled from the field as they hit only 14 of 41 shots for 34 percent. They were just 2 of 3 from the foul line.

“We can’t seem to hit the easy shots and we were careless with the ball,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon.

The Fighting Tigers had 11 turnovers and the Hornets only 7.

The game was tied three times in the first half and the lead exchanged hands four more times. Ironton’s biggest lead was three points on two occasions while the Hornets held a 6-point lead on two occasions including 25-19 at the half as they went on an 8-0 run to end the second quarter.

A triple by Carey gave Coal Grove a 30-21 lead in the third quarter but trifecta by Phillip Kratzenberg and a stick back by Bowling cut the deficit to 30-24.

Carey’s short baseline shot put the Hornets lead at 32-26 to end the quarter.

Two layups by Carey and one by Adkins opened up a 38-26 lead with 5:32 left. Jake Isaac’s layup with 3:42 to play had Ironton with 38-28, but the Hornets finished the game with an 8-4 run including 6 of 8 from the foul line.

Coal Grove 12 13 7 14 = 46

Ironton 13 6 7 6 = 32

COAL GROVE (5-7, 2-4): Travis Carey 3 2 0-0 12, Sean Paulus 0 1 3-4 6, Brandon Adkins 1 1 6-9 11, Joe Akers 1 0 0-1 2, Austin Pleasants 4 0 3-5 11, Jonathon Joseph 0 0 0-0 0, Isaiah Gunthers 0 1 1-2 4, Jordan Lucas 0 0 0-0 0, Daniel Rutherford 0 0 0-0 0, Isaac Fields 0 0 0-0 0, Cole Gannon 0 0 0-0 0, Jake Myers 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Pierce 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-30 13-21 46. 3-point goals: 5-13. Rebounds: 6-O, 18-D = 24 (Carey 7, Adkins 6). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Assists: 5 (Adkins 3). Steals: 9 (Paulus 4, Adkins 3). Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (4-7, 2-3): Phillip Kratzenberg 1 1 0-0 5, Joe Bowling 6 0 0-1 12, Tristan Cox 2 1 2-2 9, Marques Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Desmond Young 2 0 0-0 4, Tanner Price 0 0 0-0 0, Jake Isaac 1 0 0-0 2, Raphael Glover 0 0 0-0 0, Kevin Davis 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-41 2-3 32. 3-point goals: 2-7. Rebounds: 10-O, 15-D = 25 (Bowling 5, Davis 5, Young 4). Teams/deadball rebounds: 2. Assists: 4 (Bowling 3). Steals: 4 (Bowling 2). Turnovers: 11. Blocked shots: 1 (Price). Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Cox (4th 3:52).