Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

The Ironton Fighting Tigers looked like what they are: a team with about than two weeks of practice.
Ironton struggled with shooting and taking care of the ball again in a 62-48 loss to the Gallipolis Blue Devils in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
Playing in the football state championship game three weeks ago, Ironton’s football player laden lineup was guilty of 17 turnovers and shot a just 17-of-50 from the field for 34 percent including 4-of-17 in the first half with only one field goal in the second quarter.
Gallipolis (3-3, 1-2) was just the opposite as the Blue Devils were hot from the field in the first half.
Reece Thomas hit three 3-point goals in the first quarter and scored all 15 of his points in the first half. Justin WIlcoxin came off the bench and hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter when Gallipolis began to build its big lead.
Thomas was the only Gallipolis player in double figures for the game.
Reid Carrico had 20 points and 8 rebounds to lead the Fighting Tigers. Gage Salyers hit three trifectas and scored 11 points while Trent Hacker had 9 rebounds.
Ironton held a 35-29 rebound advantage including 16 offensive boards but was unable to convert the rebounds into baskets.
Ironton was within 8-6 early after a steal by Jordan Grizzle and a putback by Collin Freeman.
But Gallipolis went up 13-8 at the end of the quarter and then Wilcoxin hit his 3-pointers to begin the second quarter and it was 19-8.
The lead was 23-10 when Salyers hit a trey but Thomas hit a 17-footer, Colton Caldwell made a layup and Cooper Davis hit a 3-pointer with18 seconds left in the half for a 30-13 halftime cushion.
Gallipolis opened up a 43-1 lead in the third quarter on a pair of foul shots by Logan Blouir and Ironton trailed 46-24 at the end of the quarter.
Ironton (0-3, 0-1) began a comeback in the fourth quarter as Carrico got a putback, a layup and then a steal that he turned into a 3-point play and it was 46-32.
A 3-pointer by Salyers had Ironton down 50-36 but the Blue Devils converted 14-of-26 free throws in the fourth quarter and 22-of-38 for the game to prevent the Fighting Tigers from getting any closer.
Ironton plays at Rock Hill on Monday with the jv game beginning at 2 p.m.
Gallipolis 13 17 16 16 = 62
Ironton 8 5 11 24 = 48
GALLIPOLIS (3-3, 1-2): Cooper Davis 1 1 4-5 9, Devin Lee 0 0 9-11 9, Colton Caldwell 1 0 0-0 2, Logan Blouir 1 0 6-9 8, Reece Thomas 3 3 0-3 16, Ben Cox 0 0 0-0 0, Isaac Clary 1 0 0-0 2, Justin Wilcoxin 0 2 2-6 8, Damon Cremeans 4 0 1-2 9. Totals: 17-33 26-38 62. 3-pt goals: 6-10. Rebounds: 7-O, 22-D = 29 (Cremeans 7, Lee 5). Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.
IRONTON (0-3, 0-1): Trent Hacker 0 0 1-4 1, Jordan Grizzle 1 02-2 4, Reid Carrico 7 0 4-5 18, Trent Milleson 2 1 0-0 7, Collin Freeman 1 0 1-2 3, Gage Salyers 0 3 2-4 11, Brayden Easterling 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Hopper 2 0 0-0 4, Landen Wilson 0 0 0-0 0, Cameron Deere 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-50 10-17 48. 3-pt goals: 4-19. Rebounds: 16-O, 19-D = 35 (Hacker 9, Carrico 8, Freeman 5). Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 28. Fouled out: Hacker (4th 1:26).