Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

MIAMI, Fla. — Maybe the Ironton Fighting Tigers are more than just a two-man team.

With Zac Carter and Trey Fletcher doing most of the scoring, Ironton was off to a 5-1 start.

But with Fletcher and Trevor White in foul trouble, Ironton coach Mark LaFon turned to his bench and 24 points from Carter to help the Fighting Tigers to beat the Coral Gables Cavaliers 74-55 Friday in the consolation bracket of the Junior Orange Bowl Classic.

Ironton’s bench contributions came from Darrius Boykin, Joe Bowling and Tristan Cox while starter Aaron Stephens also made some key plays.

In similar fashion to Thursday when Ironton fell behind 8-0 to start the game against Hialeah Gardens, the Fighting Tigers were down 6-2 to start Friday’s game before going on a 13-0 run that ended on a layup by Bowling.

Carter added two foul shots with five seconds on the clock and it was 19-8 to end the stanza.

A layup by Stephens gave Ironton a 26-14 lead before Mac Melendez hit a 3-pointer and Bryan DelRosario scored to cut the deficit to 26-19.

But Carter made two foul shots, Josh Glover hit a layup off a pass from Darrius Boykin and Tristan Cox knocked down a 13-footer and the lead was 32-19.

Carter’s runner in the lane made it 35-24 before Melendez’s layup cut the lead to 35-26 at the half.

Antonio Dawson hit two baskets to begin the second half and get the Cavs within 4 points, but White returned to the lineup in the second half and scored 6 points and Carter and Fletcher buried trifectas for a 51-39 lead.

Boykin hit Fletcher for a layup and a free throw by Carter with no time on the clock gave Ironton a 54-42 lead.

Fletcher, Carter and Bowling all had layups as Ironton built a 64-44 lead with 4:50 to play and the Fighting Tigers were never threatened.

Ironton hosts Ashland, Ky., on Saturday.

Ironton 19 16 19 20 = 74

Coral Gables 8 18 16 13 = 55

IRONTON (6-1): Zack Carter 8-14 7-8 24, Josh Glover 2-3 2-3 6, Trevor White 6-7 1-2 13, Trey Fletcher 7-11 0-2 15, Aaron Stephens 1-4 1-2 3, Darrius Boykin 2-2 0-0 4, Joe Bowling 2-3 1-2 5, Nate Garred 0-1 0-0 0, Tristan Cox 2-3 0-0 4, Trevor Easterling 0-0 0-0 0, Isaac Sherman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 30-48 12-19 74. 3-point goals: 2-5 (Bowling 0-1, Carter 1-2, Fletcher 1-2). Rebounds: 4-28=32 (Carter 7, Glover 5, Stephens 5, Bowling 5). Assists: 13 (Carter 6). Steals: 6 (Carter 3). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 17. Fouled out; None.

CORAL GABLES (7-9): Rodney Martinez 0-1 0-0 0, Antonio Dawson 4-10 2-4 10, Bryan DelRosario 4-5 4-5 13, Melo Afguero 1-6 0-0 2, Carlos Marban 0-0 0-0 0, Justin Sanches 0-2 0-0 0, Mac Melendez 3-8 1-2 9, Reidel Ramon 0-0 0-0 0, Thiago Cepeda 0-1 0-0 0, Mike Kirkpatrick 5-17 4-5 16, Tori Cottle 2-2 1-1 5. Totals: 19-52 12-17 55. 3-point goals: 5-23 (Dawson 0-3, DelRosario 1-2, Aguero 0-3, Sanches 0-1, Melendez 2-5, Kirkpatrick 2-9). Rebounds: 7-18=25 (Dawson 6, Kirkpatrick 6). Assists: 3 (DelRosario 2). Steals: 6 (Dawson 2). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Martinez).