Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SPRING VALLEY, W.Va. — Shooting on your home court is an advantage. Just as the Spring Valley Timberwolves.
The T-Wolves shot well not only from the field but from behind the arc as they held off the Ironton Fighting Tigers 73-62 in the season opener on Tuesday.
Spring Valley was 27-of-59 from the field for 46 percent and 10-of-22 form the 3-point line, also for 46 percent.
Ironton was 22-of-58 from the floor for 38 percent and just 6-of-22 from the arc for 27 percent.
“It’s tough to defend three people shooting from that far out. You can handle one and maybe two, but that third one makes it hard,” said Ironton assistant coach A.J. McKnight.
“But we didn’t rebound well and we gave up too many offensive boards. The things we didn’t do well can be fixed. We just have to go back in the gym and work hard.”
Kyle Adkins had 25 points — 19 in the second half — for Ironton. Ethan Wilson had 16 points and freshman Reid Carrico got 12 points and 12 rebounds in his high school debut.
Caleb Fowler hit six 3-point shots and scored 27 points for Spring Valley. C.J. Meredith had 18 points and Casey Hinchman scored 15.
Wilson’s steal and layup gave Ironton a 2-0 lead to start the game, the only lead of the game.
Spring Valley went on a 12-1 run and led 14-8 at the end of the quarter.
The lead grew to 14 points on two occasions in the second quarter, the second at 34-20 after a 3-pointer by Fowler.
But Adkins hit a triple, Hunter Humphreys made the first of two foul shots and Ayden Barnes got the rebound and fed Wilson for a layup.
Wilson was fouled on the play and converted the free throw to get Ironton with 34-27 at the break.
Wilson and Adkins hit trifectas as Ironton closed to within 48-44 late in the third quarter only to have Spring Valley go on a 9-2 run to end the quarter and it was 57-46.
Adkins hit a 3-pointer and a layup to cut the deficit to 70-62 with 1:32 left, but Ironton could get no closer.
Ironton plays Meigs at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday in the Newt Oliver Classic at the University of Rio Grande.
Also scheduled to play are South Point and South Webster while Oak Hill faces Pt. Pleasant.
Ironton       8    19    19    16    =    62
Spring Valley    14    20    23    16    =    73
IRONTON (0-1): Ethan Wilson 3 2 4-5 16, Kyle Adkins 5 3 6-7 25, Reid Carrico 6 0 0-0 12, Hunter Humphreys 0 0 2-4 2, Ayden Barnes 0 0 0-0 0, Trent Milleson 2 0 0-0 4, Ryan Payne 0 1 0-0 3, Collin Freeman 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-58 12-16 62. 3-pt goals: 6-22. Rebounds: 16-O, 18-D = 34 (Carrico 12, Barnes 6). Team rebounds: 3. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.
SPRING VALLEY (1-0): Casey Hinchman 3 2 3-6 15, Caleb Fowler 3 6 3-3 27, C.J. Meredith 6 2 0-0 18, Reese Stevenson 0 0 0-1 0, Jacob Bailey 2 0 0-0 4, Chance Ballard 3 0 3-4 9. Totals: 27-59 9-14 73. 3-point goals: 10-22. Rebounds: 15-O, 19-D = 34 (Meredith 7, Ballard 5). Team rebounds: 8. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.