By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

The Ironton Fighting Tigers were in the right spot at the right time.

Ironton made the right plays when the situation called for it as the Fighting Tigers slipped past the Huntington Highlanders 62-54 on Friday.

“We just kept it close and it came down to how well we were able to execute our offense against their defense,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon.

“There were a few runs here and a few there. We made some mistakes but you have to attribute that to their preparation.”

Zac Carter helped execute the offense with his ability to penetrate and hit the outside jumper. Carter had 30 points including 12 of 14 from the foul line. He had 13 points in the fourth quarter.

Dion Brown added 12 points and Trey Fletcher 11 as Ironton ran its record to 4-0.

Ironton out-rebounded Huntington 42-30 with Brown grabbing 12 and Fletcher 10. LaFon said the pair complement each other.

“When Trey is aggressive, it makes Dion better, and when Dion is aggressive it makes Trey better,” said LaFon.

Toquan Hayes and Shaquan Miller scored 15 points each for Huntington (1-2). Tyquan Sayles added 10 points.

LaFon said Carter and Fletcher usually carry the scoring load, but it has been the contributions of the rest of the team that have played a significant role in their success.

“This team wants to fit into their roles. They want to do their jobs,” said LaFon.

Huntington appeared to have control of the game early. After a putback by Nolan Johnson put Ironton up 2-0, the Highlanders went on a 7-0 run.

Ironton continued to battle back and tied the game on a trifecta by Carter just before the buzzer and it was 16-all.

A foul shot by Johnson to start the second quarter gave Ironton its first lead and a follow up shot by Brown with 4:25 left in the half put the Fighting Tigers up for good at 20-19.

Leading 29-23 heading into the second half, Ironton got a layup by Carter to go up 37-26 with 6:18 on the clock.

A trey by Chancelor Wooding got Huntington within 43-39 but a steal and layup by Carter had the lead at 45-39.

A 3-point play by Carter at the 3:55 mark put the lead at 52-45 and he scored 6 straight points to match Ironton’s biggest lead at 60-49 with just 56 seconds left.

Ironton played St. Clairsville on Saturday at Ohio University.

Huntington 16 7 16 15 = 54

Ironton 16 13 16 17 = 62

HUNTINGTON (1-2): Shaquan Miller 3 3 0-0 15, Nick Tubbs 2 1 0-0 7, Tyquan Sayles 3 0 4-6 10, Chancelor Wooding 0 2 0-0 6, Toquan Hayes 7 0 1-6 15, Darian Shackleford 0 0 0-0 0, Jaylin Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Elijah King 0 0 1-2 1, Wes Moultrie 0 0 0-0 0, Jared Martin 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-54 6-14 54. 3-point goals: 6-20. Rebounds: 11-19=30 (Sayles 5, Wooding 4, Hayes 4). Team rebounds: 8. Assists: 6(Tubbs 3). Steals: 10 (Tubbs 4, King 2). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Tubbs (4th 1:06), Miller (4th 0:06).

IRONTON (4-0): Zac Carter 6 2 12-14 30, Trey Fletcher 3 1 2-2 11, Dion Brown 5 0 2-2 12, Nolan Johnson 3 0 1-2 7, Aaron Stephens 1 0 0-0 2, Tanner Dutey 0 0 0-0 0, Darius Boykin 0 0 0-0 0, Josh Glover 0 0 0-0 0, Nate Garred 0 0 0-0 0, Sean Lawless 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-50 17-22 62. 3-point goals: 3-9. Rebounds: 17-25=42 (Brown 12, Fletcher 10, Carter 6). Team rebounds: 2. Assists: 6 (Brown 3, Glover 2). Steals: 7 (Carter 3). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.