ATHENS - Size was supposed to be Ironton's biggest fear going into Saturday's Division III district semifinal against the Piketon Red Streaks.

It proved to be their best weapon.

Piketon featured 6-foot-7 Ely Porter and 6-6 Dustin Woodruff. But the twin towers were outplayed by Ironton's 6-5 Cliff Howard who had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Fighting Tigers to a 84-49 spanking of the Red Streaks.

"Cliff has those capabilities. He always has," Ironton coach Roger Zornes said. "We controlled the tempo of the game and we controlled the game inside. Piketon is a good rebounding team and we were concerned about that."

As it turned out, Ironton held a 43-23 domination on the glass including 21 offensive boards.

But Howard was only a part of the plan. The defensive play and outside game kicked into gear as Brigham Waginger scored 22 points and Dennis Gagai had 16 points, 10 assists and seven steals.

Joe Zornes just missed double figures with 8 points.

"These guys can all score," coach Zornes said. "They started to extend their defense and our guys recognized it and got (Howard) the ball. He got us going and our guards took over."

Ironton, 22-0, will play at 6 p.m. next Sunday at Ohio University in the district finals against the winner of Saturday's late game between Wheelersburg and Eastern Brown.

"Our kids are playing like they're on a mission. They came ready to play and I hope we can continue that," coach Zornes said.

Kyle Miller lead Piketon (18-5) with 23 points.

Gagai had a steal and layup and then a 3-pointer as Ironton went up 7-2. Miller hit a 15-footer only to have Howard score 8 straight points and Waginger's layup made it 17-4.

A free throw by Marcus Williams closed the quarter and it was 18-6.

Gagai, Joe Zornes and Howard all scored early in the second quarter as the lead went to 24-8. A layup by Waginger with 2:45 left in the half extended the cushion to 30-12.

Piketon's Cabel Breitenbach got two baskets around a short jumper by Waginger and it was 35-18 at the break.

"I thought we came out focused and took it to them. We pushed the ball up and down the floor and they started to get fatigued," coach Zornes said. "Joe, Brigham and Dennis were finding the open man and getting the ball to them. Marcus made some nice passes inside and Pat Kouns came in and did a nice job for us."

Two foul shots by Joe Zornes, a steal and layup by Waginger and a layup by Howard put Ironton up 43-22, and a steal by Gagai who fed Waginger for a layup made it 49-24 with 3:45 left in the third quarter.

Waginger converted a 3-point play for a 52-28 lead and then Gagai hit two jumpers and Waginger 3 more points for an insurmountable 61-33 lead after three quarters.

Chad Miller hit a layup to start the fourth quarter and give Ironton a 30-point lead. Shawon Miller hit a 3-pointer and a 15-footer in the closing minute as the Fighting Tigers took their biggest lead of the game at 84-46.

Piketon6121516=49

Ironton18172623=84

PIKETON (18-5):

Cabel Breitenbach 2-5 0-0 4, Kyle Miller 10-23 2-5 23, Mark Walters 0-0 0-0 0, Dustin Woodruff 1-3 2-2 4, Ely Porter 3-4 2-2 8, Tyler McCaleb 2-2 0-0 4, Craig McCann 2-6 1-2 6, Matt Crace 0-1 0-0 0, Bobby Oliver 0-0 0-0 0, Caleb Penn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-45

7-11

49. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Porter (4th 6:02), Woodruff (4th 5:52). Rebounds: 6-16=22 (Porter 5, McCaleb 4). Team/deadball rebounds: 1. Total rebounds: 23. Assists: 5 (Miller 4). Steals: 2. Turnovers: 18. FG% – 44.4. FT% – 63.6. 3pt% – 16.7.

IRONTON (22-0):

Dennis Gagai 7-14 1-2 16, Brigham Waginger 10-12 2-6 22, Joe Zornes 3-9 2-2 8, Cliff Howard 10-15 0-4 20, Marcus Williams 0-3 2-4 2, Brent McBride 0-1 0-0 0, Patrick Kouns 0-0 0-0 0, Greg Linn 2-3 0-0 4, Chad Miller 2-3 0-0 5, Shawon Miller 2-3 0-0 5, Brian Wirzfeld 1-1 0-0 2, Brandon Walker 0-1 0-0 0, Michael Phillips 0-3 0-0 0, T.J. Keith 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 37-70

7-18

84. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 3-10 (Gagai 1-4, Waginger 0-1, Zornes 0-2, C. Miller 1-2, S. Miller 1-1). Rebounds: 21-17=38 (Howard 10). Team/deadball rebounds: 5. Total rebounds: 43. Assists: 19 (Gagai 10, Waginger 5). Steals: 11 (Gagai 7). Turnovers: 7. FG% – 52.9. FT% – 38.9. 3pt% – 30.