Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

You have to practice to get better, even if you decided to practice at halftime.
The Ironton Fighting Tigers were just 6-of-26 from the field in the first half for 23 percent. The team went into the locker room at halftime for about a minute and then returned to the court just to shoot.
Ironton was 10-of-23 in the second half for 43 percent and it helped the Fighting Tigers rally for a 43-42 win over the Rock Hill Redmen in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Tuesday.
“It’s a win and when you’re in the situation we’re in, any win is a great win,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon whose team is now 4-12 and 2-7 in the OVC.
“It was two teams fighting to get a win. It wasn’t pretty, but it was just two teams fighting to win.”
Ethan Wilson had 15 points, six rebounds and three assists while Reid Carrico got 12 points, 10 rebounds and two steals to lead the Fighting Tigers.
Trent Milleson added eight points and nine rebounds.
Rock Hill (0-13, 0-10) was led by Braden Stamper with a game-high 21 points including five 3-pointers. Jaret Bacorn had eight points and six rebounds while Kadin France grabbed eight rebounds and blocked three shots.
Ironton took an early 6-2 lead before the Redmen went on a 10-0 run to close the quarter and lead 12-6.
Ironton finally ended the scoring draught as Milleson made a foul shot at the 6:04 mark. Carrico then made two foul shots and the Fighting Tigers were down 12-9.
But Garrett Miller made a layup and sank two free throws as Rock Hill led 16-9.
A 13-footer by Carrico and a layup by Joel Blankenship got Ironton within 16-13.
Stamper — who had 10 points in the first half — gave Rock Hill a 20-13 lead before Carrico’s basket made it 20-15 at the break.
Stamper and Logan Hankins scored to start the second half and make it 24-15. A 10-fotoer by Carrico and putback by Wilson cut the deficit to 26-21 but Stamper hit a 3-pointer for a 29-21 lead.
A basket by Carrico, two foul shots by Wilson and a putback by Milleson got Ironton within 30-29.
Two foul shots by Kyle Adkins and then a steal by Carrico who fed Adkins for a layup put Ironton up 33-32.
Stamper answered with a 3-pointer and Rock Hill was back on top at 35-33. Carrico hit a 15-footer to give Ironton 36-35 lead only to have Stamper hit his fifth 3-pointer and it was 38-36.
Milleson then hit a jumper to tie the game with just under five minutes to play and a running layup by Wilson put Ironton up 40-38. But France had a putback to tie the game with 3:14 to play.
Wilson hit two free throws with 2:23 left as Ironton regained the lead at 42-40.
Bacorn was fouled with 51 seconds to play and hit both free throws to tie the game.
After missed shots by both teams, Wilson was fouled with 7.3 seconds left and hit the first of two shots for a 43-42 lead.
The Redmen got the rebound but a long shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
Ironton hosts Chesapeake on Friday. Rock Hill visits South Point on Wednesday and Coal Grove on Friday.
Rock Hill    12    8    10    12    =    42
Ironton       6    9    14    14    =    43
ROCK HILL (0-13, 0-10): Jake Blagg 0 0 0-0 0, Logan Hankins 1 0 3-4 5, Braden Stamper 3 5 0-0 21, Jaret Bacorn 3 0 2-2 8, Kadin France 1 0 0-0 2, Isaac Floyd 1 0 0-0 2, Cody Roberts 0 0 0-0 0, Logan Reed 0 0 0-0 0, Garrett Miller 1 0 2-3 4. Totals: 15-39 7-13 42. 3-pt goals: 5-14. Rebounds: 3-O, 21-D = 24 (France 8, Bacorn 6). Team rebounds: 3. Assists: 3. Steals: 5. Turnovers: 22. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.
IRONTON (4-12, 2-7): Ethan Wilson 5 0 5-8 15, Joel Blankenship 1 0 0-0 2, Ayden Barnes 0 0 0-1 0, Reid Carrico 5 0 2-2 12, Trent Milleson 3 0 2-6 8, Kyle Adkins 1 0 2-2 4, Hunter Humphreys 0 0 0-0 0, Ryan Payne 1 0 0-0 2, Collin Freeman 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-49 11-19 43. 3-pt goals: 0-3. Rebounds: 12-O, 23-D = 35 (Carrico 10, Milleson 9, Wilson 6). Team rebounds: 1. Assists: 7 (Wilson 3). Steals: 8 (Barnes 3, Carrico 2). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.