Things are tightening up.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers 27-13 win over Portsmouth West last week has helped close the gap between first and second places in Region 15 of Division IV in the Ohio High School Athletic Association

computer playoff ratings.

Bellaire (7-0) remained first with a 17.8387 average while Ironton (6-1) raised its average to 17.2214.

While Ironton was moving up, the Rock Hill Redmen (6-1) slid two places to ninth after beating River Valley which had just one win. The Redmen have an average of 9.3357, just behind Heath with a 9.3500 average.

The rest of the top 10 has West Muskingum third followed by Westfall, Piketon, Portsmouth West, and Meadowbrook is seventh.

The key games in the region this week have Piketon facing Westfall and Meadowbrook playing Dover.

Coal Grove (6-1) has moved to eighth place in Region 19 of Division V.

The Hornets have an average of 8.3480. Trimble is seventh with a 9.2520 total.

The region has East Knox in first place followed by Bishop Ready, Grandview Heights, Lucasville Valley, Wheelersburg and Adena.

Chesapeake inched up two spots to 16th place and plays at Coal Grove Friday in a pivotal game to help determine the Ohio Valley Conference race as well a lot of computer points.

Symmes Valley dropped to ninth in Region 23 of Division VI after losing to Lucasville Valley. The Vikings have a 5.5714 average and trail Bellaire St. John which has a 5.6220 total.

The Vikings final three games could bring enough points to qualify for the playoffs. They play Portsmouth Notre Dame, East and Guyan Valley, W.Va.