Fighting Tigers must shrink Piketon#039;s district chances

Published 12:00 am Monday, February 28, 2005

When Ironton coach Roger Zornes sizes up the Piketon Red Streaks, it takes a little longer than usual.

Piketon, 18-4, will start the biggest team Ironton has seen to date when the two teams meet at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Ohio University in the Division III district semifinals.

The offense is led by Kyle Miller, a 6-foot-2 senior, and 6-3 senior Eric Farmer. Both have scored 1,000 points during their careers.

Email newsletter signup

Up front are 6-7 Ely Porter and 6-6 Dustin Woodruff. The other guard is 5-10 junior Craig McCann.

"They're bigger than we are and they like a halfcourt game. We like a fullcourt game. The team who controls the tempo will win," Zornes said.

Ironton posted its first-ever 20-0 regular season, but Zornes said the regular season is in the past. The tournament is a new season and a new challenge.

"You better be ready to play. Everybody is dangerous now," Zornes said.

Dennis Gagai leads Ironton with a 17.1 scoring average.

Brigham Waginger averages 15.9 points and 6.8 assists per game. Joe Zornes has been steady in all phases with averages of 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

Cliff Howard, a 6-5 senior center, has a 9.7 average. He leads the team with 5.7 rebounds per contest. Marcus Williams averages 6.0 points and 5.2 rebounds.