Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — Cherry turnovers are really good. Strawberry cream is good, too.
But those basketball turnovers will make you sick.
That was the case for the Ironton Fighting Tigers who were guilty of 19 turnovers with 11 coming in the second and third quarters when they scored just 12 total points.
The young Chesapeake Panthers — who had 15 turnovers of their own — were able to find a way to win as they held on for a 48-47 Ohio Valley Conference victory on Tuesday.
“That was the difference in the game. Turnovers. When you turn the ball over 19 times when a team is playing a zone, you’re not going to win too often,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon.
“We didn’t take care of the ball. (Chesapeake) did a nice job taking care of the basketball but it was more about us turning the ball over. It hurts your defense and it hurts your offense.”
Eli Archer led the Panthers (4-6, 2-2) with 24 points while Tylan Hutchison scored 11.
Ironton (3-8, 1-3) was paced by Reid Carrico with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Ethan Wilson hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 13 points to go along with four assists for the Fighting Tigers.
Ironton took a 10-5 lead as Carrico scored eight points. A baseline jumped by Charlie Large made it 12-7 but Logan Walsh hit a 3-pointer to get the Panthers within 12-10.
Trent Milleson sank two free throws with 18 seconds left in the quarter and Ironton lead 14-10.
Ironton opened up a 17-10 lead on three points by Carrico. A trifecta by Kyle Adkins gave Ironton its biggest lead of the half at 21-14 with 1:19 on the clock.
But a layup by Christian Layne cut the deficit to 21-16 at the half.
The Panthers began the second half by outscored Ironton 15-2 with Archer scoring 13 points including a three-point play and a putback at the 2:38 mark to make it 29-23.
Large hit a 3-pointer to end the Ironton scoring draught as Ironton trailed 33-26 at the end of the quarter.
A layup by Tylan Hutchison gave the Panthers a 35-26 lead but Ironton went on an 11-2 scoring run to tie the game at 37 on a 15-footer by Ethan Wilson.
Wilson hit another 3-pointer to put Ironton up 42-41 with 1:26 left.
Archer and Hutchison both hit layups as Chesapeake took a 45-42 lead. Hutchison made a foul shot and Carrico answered with a basket and it was 46-44.
Layne was fouled with three seconds left and hit both free throws for a 48-44 lead.
Wilson heaved a three-quarter court shot that connected at the buzzer.
On Friday, Ironton hosts South Point and Chesapeake entertains Coal Grove. The Beast of the Southeast is Saturday at Chesapeake.
Ironton       14    7    5    21    =    47
Chesapeake    10    6    17    15    =    48
IRONTON (3-8, 1-3): Ethan Wilson 3 2 1-1 13, Joel Blankenship 0 0 0-0 0, Charlie Large 2 1 0-0 7, Ayden Barnes 0 0 0-0 0, Reid Carrico 7 0 6-8 20, Kyle Adkins 1 1 0-1 5, Trent Milleson 0 0 2-2 2, Hunter Humphreys 0 0 0-0 0, Ryan Payne 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-38 9-12 47. 3-pt goals: 4-12. Rebounds: 8-O, 20-D = 28 (Carrico 12). Team rebounds: 2. Assists: 10 (Wilson 3, Large 2, Adkins 2). Steals: 7 (Adkins 2). Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
CHESAPEAKE (4-6, 2-2): Tylan Hutchison 4 0 3-6 11, Cole Mills 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Jackson 0 0 4-6 4, Eli Archer 11 0 2-3 24, Karmren Harless 0 0 0-0 0, Christian Layne 1 0 2-2 4, Logan Walsh 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 18-39 11-17 48. 3-pt goals: 1-6. Rebounds: 5-O, 14-D = 19 (Mills 5, Hutchison 4). Team rebounds: 4. Assists: 6. Steals: 8 (Jackson 3, Mills 2). Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.