This time coach Mark LaFon remembered to bring some jumper cables.

After watching his Fighting Tigers struggle to get started in its first two games, Ironton raced to a big lead to start the game Tuesday and beat the Gallipolis Blue Devils 57-43.

Dennis Gagai scored 12 points as Ironton jumped on Gallipolis 15-1 to start the game.

“I’ve been concerned with the way we’ve been starting each game,” LaFon said. “We can’t keep doing that against the schedule we’re playing. Hopefully this will get us jump started into the next game.”

Ironton plays at Capitol on Friday.

Gagai, a standout senior guard, had 23 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals as Ironton remained unbeaten in three games.

Brandon Walker and Michael Phillips each had 13 points and five rebounds.

“Brandon was more aggressive offensively. When Michael works hard inside for us, he’ll give teams fits,” LaFon said.

Shaphen Robinson had 12 points and Jeff Golden 11 to lead Gallpolis.

After Ironton took a 17-5 lead at the end of the first quarter, the lead reached 27-11 with 3:15 left in the half on a layup by Gagai.

Trailing 33-19 at the break, Gallipolis began a mild comeback as Robinson hit a 3-pointer and Shawn Thompson converted a three-point play to get the Blue Devils within 39-31 with four minutes on the clock.

But a 3-pointer by Gagai pushed the lead to 10 points. Walker made two straight layups and Ironton was up 47-33. Walker’s scoop layup at the buzzer made it 50-37 at the end of the third quarter.

Walker and Phillips both made layups to start the fourth quarter and it was 54-37. With less than four minutes to play, both coaches emptied their benches.

Gallipolis514186=43

Ironton1716177=57

GALLIPOLIS (1-4): Travus Stout 0-1 (0-1) 0-0 0, Shawn Thompson 5-10 (0-0) 1-1 11, Jeff Golden 1-5 (1-2) 3-4 6, Jaymes Haggerty 1-7 (0-3) 0-0 2, Shaphen Robinson 5-9 (2-3) 0-0 12, Brad Caudill 0-0 (0-0) 4-5 4, Alex Kyger 1-3 (0-0) 0-0 2, Chris Miller 0-1 (0-0) 0-0 0, David Rumley 1-1 (0-0) 0-2 2, Chris McCoy 0-1 (0-0) 2-3 2, Matt Mooney 1-1 (0-0) 0-0 2, Joe Esmaeili 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 15-39

(3-9)

10-15

43. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. Rebounds; 8-12=20 (Thompson 5, Robinson 4). Teams/deadlball rebounds: 4. Assists: 4. Steals: 6 (Robinson 2, Golden 2). Turnovers: 23.

IRONTON (3-0):

Dennis Gagai 8-15 (2-6) 5-5 23, Marc Carter 1-4 (0-1) 0-1 2, Brandon Walker 6-11 (0-2) 1-2 13, T.J. Keith 0-2 (0-0) 0-0 0, Michael Phillips 5-7 (0-0) 3-4 13, Alstan Carter 0-1 (0-1) 1-2 1, Trevor Allen 1-1 (0-0) 1-2 3, Troy Allen 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Jared Murphy 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Andy Colegrove 0-1 (0-0) 0-3 0, J.J. Johnson 0-1 (0-0) 0-0 0, Josh Morgan 1-1 (0-0) 0-0 2. Totals: 22-44

(2-10)

11-19

57. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 9-16=25 (Gagai 6, Walker 5, Phillips 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 2. Assists: 12 (Gagai 5). Steals: 11 (Gagai 2, M. Carter 2). Turnovers: 16.

Reserves: Ironton 39, Gallipolis 31. Ironton scoring: Andy Colegrove 12, Drew Kuehne 7, Zach Christensen 7.