Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

GALLIPOLIS — Ironton must have felt like former WWE wrestler Stone Cold” Steve Austin didn’t deliver his stunner move until after halftime.

The Fighting Tigers trailed by just two points at halftime but then scored only 12 points in the second half as they lost 58-38 Tuesday to the Gallipolis Blue Devils.

Ironton was just 12-of-42 from the field for the game and a meager 3-of-16 in the second half.

The Fighting Tigers weren’t much better at the foul line. They were 10-of-24 including 4-of-14 in the first half.

“Once the first half was over we didn’t play any kind of consistent basketball in the second half,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon.

“We did not hit free throws. We didn’t do a good job. We’re not hitting the shots we’re taking. You can’t keep putting that pressure on your defense.”

Tristan Cox scored a game-high 19 points to lead Ironton with 15 points coming in the first half. Phillip Kratzenberg scored 10 points.

The Fighting Tigers tied the game 7-7 on a trifecta by Cox. Gallipolis went up 12-7 on a layup by Wes Jarrell and a 3-point play by Reid Eastman.

Ironton got within 13-12 on a triple by Kratzenberg. Eastman answered with his own 3-pointer but a layup by Lucas Campbell cut the deficit to 16-14.

Cox drained a 3-pointer with just under a minute left to give Ironton a 17-16 lead.

The lead changed hands five times in the second quarter.

Ironton (0-12) led 26-24 after a 3-pointer by Cox and a layup by Marques Davis. But 6-foot-7 Jacob Strieter hit back-to-back layups to give the Blue Devils a 28-26 lead at the half.

The third quarter proved to be another in a long line of offensive headaches right after halftime. Ironton missed all four field goal attempts in the quarter and was 2-of-4 at the foul line as Gallipolis outscored the Fighting Tigers 10-2 for a 38-28 lead.

Gallipolis (7-6) used a 3-point play by Wade Jarrell at the start of the second half and it was 31-26. Eastman hit a 3-pointer and a layup to close the quarter.

Cox got Ironton on track to start the fourth quarter with a pair of free throws and a layup and the deficit was 38-32.

But after a layup by Kratzenberg had the deficit at 40-32, Ironton went cold again as Gallioplis went on an 11-0 run to lead 51-34. Ironton didn’t score until Isaac Sherman made two free throws with 1:37 to play.

Eastman scored 18 points, Wade Jarrell 15 and Wes Jarrell 12 for the Blue Devils.

Ironton plays at Ashland, Ky., Thursday.

Ironton 17 9 2 10 = 38

Gallipolis 16 12 10 20 = 58

IRONTON (0-12): Tristan Cox 3 3 4-6 19, Nate Garred 0 0 0-2 0, Desmond Young 0 0 0-0 0, Phillip Kratzenberg 2 1 3-4 10, Isaac Sherman 1 0 3-6 5, Hunter Klaiber 0 0 0-0 0, Richard Crockrel 0 0 0-0 0, Lucas Campbell 1 0 0-3 2, Marques Davis 1 0 0-1 2, Joe Matkins 0 0 0-2 0, Logan Gleichauf 0 0 0-0 0, Chad Garris 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-42 10-24 38. 3-point goals: 4-13. Rebounds: 11-OR, 19-DR = 30 (Cox 10, Sherman 8). Turnovers: 21. Fouls: 27. Fouled out: Young, Campbell.

GALLIPOLIS (7-6): Kole Carter 0 1 0-0 3, Wes Jarrell 5 0 2-3 12, Reid Eastman 2 2 8-9 18, Wade Jarrell 3 0 9-12 15, Jacob Strieter 3 0 1-7 7, Devin Henry 1 0 0-0 2, Alex White 0 0 1-2 1, Isaiah Franklin 0 0 0-0 0, Mike Putney 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-42 21-33 58. 3-point goals: 3-9. Rebounds: 11-OR, 22-DR = 33 (Strieter 9, We. Jarrell 8). Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 22. Fouled out: Strieter.