Ironton wins thriller in OT
Published 3:02 am Monday, February 6, 2017
Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com
PEDRO — The Ironton Fighting Tigers were struggling with their shooting including foul shots.
But senior Raphael Glover managed to hit the one big shot they needed as he made the first of two foul shots with 0:00.5 seconds left in overtime to give Ironton a 41-40 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Rock Hill Redmen on Friday.
“That was huge. He even missed (the second shot) the right way so they couldn’t get off a good shot,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon. “But we were 7-of-15 (from the foul line) and that’s dangerous, dangerous.”
Ironton was only 16-of-48 from the field for 33 percent and a mere 2-of-14 from the 3-point line.
Rock Hill (2-15, 0-11) was 15-of-39 from the field, 5-of-13 from the arc and 5-of-10 at the line. LaFon attributed the shooting totals to defense.
“I said after the first time we played them that they will play better defense as time goes on. (Rock Hill coach) Sam (Gue) will teach them to play defense. It’s the same thing with us. We play pretty good defense,” said LaFon.
The game was tied nine times and the lead changed hands nine times as well. Ironton’s biggest lead was 9-5 in the first quarter and Rock Hill led 23-19 early in the third quarter after a 3-pointer by Tim Adkins.
Ironton led 11-9 at the end of the first quarter on two Kyle Adkins free throws.
A three-point play by Mason Darby and a layup by Jaret Bacorn gave Rock Hill a 16-13 lead.
Ethan Wilson hit a 16-footer and his steal and layup put Ironton up 17-16 but a layup by Bacorn tied the game at the break 18-all.
After Tim Adkins’ shot gave the Redmen their four-point lead, Wilson hit two straight shots and Joel Blankenship made a put-back and Ironton led 25-23.
Isaac Floyd’s 3-pointer had Rock Hill up 28-25 and Wilson’s layup just before the buzzer got Ironton within 28-27 at the end of the third quarter.
Kyle Adkins hit a trifecta to start the fourth quarter and give Ironton a lead only to have Darby make two foul shots to tie the game.
Rock Hill went up 37-33 on another triple by Damron and a layup by Tim Adkins before Glover and Ryan Bryant made layups to tie the game.
Bryant’s layup attempt rolled around and out at the buzzer sending the game into overtime.
“At some point a few of these games have to start going our way I would hope,” said Redmen coach Sam Gue. “But the bottom line is we didn’t get it done.
“Both teams made plays at crucial points in the game. Ironton just had the dagger at the end.”
Bryant hit a free throw and Andrew Scott made a layup with 33 seconds on the clock and Ironton led 40-37 in overtime.
Isaac Floyd knocked down a 3-pointer with 17 seconds to go as Rock Hill tied the game but Ironton held for the final shot and Glover was fouled attempting a layup.
“I thought my guys battled and I‘m proud of my guys,” said LaFon. “Any time you can win a hotly-contested game in overtime is a good thing.”
Wilson had 13 points, seven rebounds and five steals to lead the Fighting Tigers (9-8, 5-6) who won their first road game of the season.
Before Friday, Ironton was 1-8 in games they trailed after three quarters.
Kyle Adkins added nine points and Hunter Humphreys had five rebounds.
Tim Adkins led Rock Hill with 10. Damron added nine points and Floyd eight. Mason Darby hauled down 18 rebounds and Bacorn had seven.
Darby was held to seven points — just two free throws in the second half.
Ironton had just nine turnovers while the Redmen had 19.
“We’ve just been preaching the importance of limiting mistakes and valuing the basketball. Our guys are starting to get it, but until we understand how to finish games, the harder these close losses become,” said Gue.
On Tuesday, Ironton visits Chesapeake and Rock Hill hosts Coal Grove.
Ironton 11 7 9 10 4 = 41
Rock Hill 9 9 10 9 3 = 40
IRONTON (9-8, 5-6): Ethan Wilson 6 0 1-1 13, Joel Blankenship 1 0 1-2 3, Kyle Adkins 0 2 3-5 9, Hunter Humphreys 0 0 0-2 0, Raphael Glover 3 0 1-3 7, Jourdyn Barrow 1 0 0-0 2, Ryan Bryant 2 0 1-2 5, Andrew Scott 1 0 0-0 2, Ryan Payne 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-48 7-15 41. 3-point goals: 2-14. Rebound: 11-O, 17-D = 28 (Wilson 7, Humphreys 5, Bryant 4, Adkins 4). Team/deadball rebounds: 2. Assists: 5 (Wilson 3). Steals: 15 (Wilson 5, Payne 2, Humphreys 2). Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.
ROCK HILL (2-15, 0-11): Tyler Damron 3 1 0-0 9, Tim Adkins 2 2 0-1 10, Isaac Floyd 1 2 0-0 8, Mason Darby 2 0 3-3 7, Nate Malone 0 0 0-0 0, Jaret Bacorn 2 0 2-6 6, Jake Blagg 0 0 0-0 0, Kadin France 0 0 0-0 0, Logan Reed 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-39 5-10 40. 3-point goals: 5-13. Rebounds: 10-O, 24-D = 34 (Darby 18, Bacorn 7). Teams/deadball rebounds: 4. Assists: 5 (Darby 3). Steals: 4. Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Floyd (OT 0:00.5).