Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — What a difference turnovers can make.
In the first meeting, the Ironton Fighting Tigers beat the Rock Hill Redmen 69-36 as they forced 26 turnovers.
On Tuesday, Rock Hill had only 11 turnovers to make for a tight game.
But Ironton was able to make the play when needed and escaped with a 47-45 Ohio Valley Conference win on Tuesday.
Ironton (12-5, 7-3) was its own worst enemy. The Fighting Tigers had 17 turnovers, most of which were unforced.
“We were unselfish. We passed up layups when we had them. We tried to make an extra pass and we weren’t aggressive. Being aggressive means handling the ball aggressively,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon.
The score was close throughout the first quarter with Ironton ahead 14-10 on a basket by Charlie Large and a foul shot by Ethan Wilson.
Brayden Malone had a layup and Owen Hankins knocked down a 3-pointer as Rock Hill took a 15-14 lead.
Ironton went on an 11-1 run to begin the second quarter to lead 25-16. Kadin France finally got a basket and it was 25-18 at the half.
Ironton got a runner from Wilson in the middle of the lane and a short jumper from Grizzle to lead 29-20, but a layup by France and then Logan Hankins had a 3-pointer and layup off a steal to make it 29-27.
Trent Milleson drained a 3-pointer to give Ironton a 34-29 lead with 1:32 left in the quarter. Owen Hankins then hit a 12-footer and it was 34-31.
Large had a follow up of his own miss to start the fourth quarter. Owen Hankins scored off a pass from Logan Hankins but Wilson had a 10-footer and then a layup courtesy a Large steal and the lead was 40-33.
Rock Hill (3-12, 0-10) came right back with layups by France and Owen Hankins and it was 40-37.
Large sank two foul shots and Jake Blagg hit a layup for Rock Hill and it was 45-42. Wilson then hit both ends of a one-and-one with seven seconds to play.
Blagg made a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to set the final score.
Large had a game-high 17 points to pace Ironton. Wilson had 11 points and seven rebounds and Reid Carrico grabbed 12 rebounds.
Rock Hill’s Owen Hankins had 16 points..
On Friday, Ironton visits Chesapeake and Rock Hill hosts Coal Grove.
Ironton 14 11 9 13 = 47
Rock Hill 15 3 13 14 = 45
IRONTON (12-5, 7-3): Ethan Wilson 4 0 3-5 11, Jordan Grizzle 2 1 0-0 7, Reid Carrico 0 0 3-6 3, Charlie Large 7 0 3-3 17, Ayden Barnes 2 0 0-0 4, Trent Milleson 1 1 0-0 5, Hunter Humphreys 0 0 0-0 0, Erickson Barnes 0 0 0-0 0, Collin Freeman 0 0 0-0 0, Trent Hacker 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-40 9-16 47. 3-pt goals: 2-8. Rebounds: 10-O, 25-D = 35 (Carrico 12, Wilson 7, A. Barnes 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 2. Assists: 8 (Large 3, Wilson 3). Steals: 6 (Large 3, Wilson 2). Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.
ROCK HILL (3-12, 0-10): Logan Hankins 2 1 0-0 7, Garrett Miller 1 1 0-0 5, Jake Blagg 1 1 0-0 5, Owen Hankins 4 2 2-8 16, Kadin France 4 0 0-1 8, Brayden Malone 2 0 0-0 4, Caleb Davis 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-39 2-9 45. 3-pt goals: 5-10. Rebounds: 2-O, 14-D = 16 (France 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 4. Assists: 8 (Blagg 4, L. Hankins 4). Steals: 6 (L. Hankins 2, Blagg 2). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.