Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

ASHLAND, Ky. — There were several things that went against Ironton against the Ashland Tomcats on Tuesday.
The main thing was the Fighting Tigers themselves.
Ironton (1-4) was guilty of 23 turnovers as Ashland pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 70-54 win.
“You can’t the ball over like that on the road,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon.
“I felt like, competitive-wise, we were better. Turning the ball over 23 times wasn’t smart. But we’re working on it.”
Freshman Reid Carrico led Ironton with 12 points and nine rebounds. Charlie Large — playing in his first game since the middle of last season due to an injury — also scored 12 points and Kyle Adkins had 11. Ethan Wilson had nine points and six rebounds despite being in foul trouble.
“(Large) is still not in shape and it’s going to take some time defensively. But when you’re 1-4 there are no positives. We have to dig down and get better as players and I have to get better as a coach.”
The Tomcats (8-1) were led by Chase Villers with 18 points. Tyler Conway and eighth grader Cole Villers scored 11 each while Justin Bradley and Devaunte Robinson added 10 apiece.
Ashland took a 4-0 lead to start the game but Ironton came back to take an 8-7 lead on a layup by Trent Milleson and a 3-pointer by Reid Carrico.
Ashland regained the lead at 11-8 on a steal and layup by Bradley but Large made a layup and a trifecta and Wilson followed with his own triple as Ironton took a 16-11 lead.
Conway hit a 3-pointer for Ashland but Milleson scored and it was 18-14 at the end of the quarter.
Adkins hit a 3-pointer to start the second quarter as Ironton went up 21-14, but Ashland answered with three 3-pointers to take a 23-21 lead.
A putback by Carrico tied the game but Cole Villers’ 3-pointer and a foul shot by Ethan Hunter put the Tomcats up 27-23.
Ironton tied the game at 28 on a triple by Large but layups by Hunter Mays and Chase Villers gave Ashland a 35-30 advantage at the half.
Ironton fell behind 50-40 before Carrico made a layup. Cole Villers hit a 3-pointer to give Ashland its biggest lead at 53-42 but Adkins answered with a 3-pointer and it was 53-45. Ashland led 55-45 at the end of the quarter
Ironton was only 4-of-10 from the field in the fourth quarter and had five more turnovers as Ashland converted 5-of-6 at the foul line and began to pull away.
Ashland was 25-of-50 from the field, 10-of-27 from the 3-point line and 10-of-15 at the line.
Ironton was 23-of-44 from the field and 7-of-14 from the arc but attempted only one free throw.
Ironton will play Friday and Saturday in the annual Ironton Classic. Ironton faces Columbus Whitehall at 8:15 p.m. on Friday and Greenfield McClain at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Ironton       18    12    15    9    =    54
Ashland    14    21    20    15    =    70
IRONTON (1-4): Ethan Wilson 3 1 0-0 9, Joel Blankenship 2 0 0-0 4, Kyle Adkins 1 3 0-0 11, Hunter Humphreys 0 0 0-0 0, Reid Carrico 4 1 1-1 12, Trent Milleson 3 0 0-0 6, Ayden Barnes 0 0 0-0 0, Charlie Large 3 2 0-0 12, Ryan Payne 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-44 1-1 54. 3-pt goals: 7-14. Rebounds: 8-O, 21-D = 29 (Carrico 9, Wilson 6). Team rebounds: 3. Turnovers: 23. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.
ASHLAND (8-1): Justin Bradley 2 2 0-0 10, Chase Villers 4 2 4-6 18, Devaunte Robinson 4 0 2-3 10, Hunter Mays 4 0 1-2 9, Tyler Conway 0 3 2-2 11, Cole Villers 1 3 0-0 11, Ethan Hudson 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 25-50 10-15 70. 3-pt goals: 10-26. Rebounds: 6-O, 12-D = 18 (Mays 4, Robinson 4). Team rebounds: 2. Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.