Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

The Ironton Fighting Tigers have added a game to their schedule, but it won’t be an easy opponent.

Coach Mark LaFon said Tuesday that the Fighting Tigers will play Columbus Centennial on Saturday, Jan. 19, at home. A triple-header will begin at 3 p.m. with the freshmen.

Centennial — a Division II school — has only two losses and counts a 62-60 win over Division I power Brookhaven among its five victories.

Brookhaven routed Portsmouth 92-49 in this years’ Ironton Classic.

The Ohio High Scohol Athletic Association passed a ruling last year to allow basketball team to play 22 games, but in the same time frame as their old 20-game schedule season.

Ironton had just 19 games scheduled and LaFon has been looking for additional games to help fill out the schedule.

The Stars lost 61-59 to Dublin Coffman in the first game of the season and 66-56 at George Washington (W.Va.).

The team is led by Elias “Boo” Osborne, son of head coach Roosevelt Osborne, and is being recruited by several Division I programs.

The 6-foot-3 senior is averaging 17 points a game. The Stars also have 6-6 senior point guard Christian Cumberlander and 6-4 center C.J. Stephens.