Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

It was senior night and everybody celebrated.
Except Portsmouth.
All 13 players on the Ironton roster scored as the Fighting Tigers crushed the Portsmouth Trojans 69-24 on Friday.
“We played well even with the different groups out there. This is the last time (the seniors will) be coming off giving me a high-five or whatever. I can’t lie. It was tough,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon.
The win enables the Fighting Tigers to finish in sole possession of second place in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Senior Charlie Large led Ironton with 18 points while sophomore Reid Carrico had 10 points and three rebounds in his limited duty. Senior Hunter Humphreys and junior Brayden Easterling had five rebounds each.
Ironton ends the regular season 16-6 and 11-3 in the OVC.
Myquel McKinley gave Portsmouth a 2-0 lead and Danny Lattimore’s foul shot had the Trojans up 3-2 early.
But Humprheys got a putback, Large hit a 3-pointer and Carrico scored Ironton’s next eight points for a 15-7 lead. Jordan Grizzle followed up a missed shot and Ironton was up 17-7 at the end of the quarter.
Portsmouth sat its starters the rest of the game and Ironton showed no mercy by forcing eight of the Trojans 18 first half turnovers in the second quarter and scoring 21 unanswered points to lead 38-7.
Richie Bowman hit a 3-pointer to end the Trojans’ drought but two foul shots by Collin Freeman to end the half gave Ironton virtually an insurmountable 40-13 lead at the break.
Large scored six points and Ethan Wilson had a basket as the lead ballooned to 48-13. LaFon began to pull all his starters after only a few minutes with the exception of senior Ayden Barnes whose final shot at home was a trifecta that put Ironton ahead 56-15.
The Fighting Tigers biggest lead was 66-19 on a trey by Easterling.
Ironton plays Minford at 8:30 p.m.
Portsmouth 7 6 4 7 = 24
Ironton 17 23 13 13 = 69
PORTSMOUTH (7-15, 3-11): Matt Fraulini 0 1 0-0 3, Danny Lattimore 0 0 2-4 2, Drew Roe 0 0 0-0 0, Myquel McKinley 1 0 0-0 2, Miles Shipp 0 0 0-0 0, Amare Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Dariyonne Bryant 0 0 0- 00 Trevor Pope 0 0 0-0 0, Jack Workman 0 0 0-0 0, Brandon Clark 0 0 0-0 0, Richie Bowman 1 1 0-0 5, Gage Mosley 1 0 0-0 2, Eli Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Kaden Davis 0 1 0-0 3, Jalynd Thomas 2 0 1-2 5. Totals: 9-38, 3-6 24. 3-pt goals: 3-19. Rebounds: 5-O, 19-D = 24 (Bryant 3, Lattimore 3). Team/deadball rebounds: 6. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.
IRONTON (16-6, 11-3): Ethan Wilson 1 0 0-0 2, Reid Carrico 3 0 4-7 10, Hunter Humphreys 0 0 1-2 5, Charlie Large 6 2 0-1 18, Ayden Barnes 0 1 0-0 3, Jordan Grizzle 1 1 2-2 7, Trent Milleson 1 0 0-0 2, Collin Freeman 1 0 2-2 4, Erickson Barnes 1 1 0-1 5, Trent Hacker 1 0 2-2 4, Will York 1 0 0-0 2, Richard Thompson 0 1 1-2 4, Brayden Easterling 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 25-56 12-19 69. 3-pt goals: 7-19. Rebounds: 15-O, 19-D – 34 (Humphreys 5, Easterling 5, Milleson 4). Assists: 9 (Wilson 4, Large 2, Humphreys 2). Steals: 15 (A. Barnes 3). Turnovers: 8. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.