GALLIPOLIS — Braden Schreck took care of the big offensive play and Carson Freeman took care of the big defensive play.
And together with the collective gritty comeback effort, the Ironton Fighting Tigers edged the Gallia Academy Blue Devils 61-60 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Tuesday.
Down 60-58, Schreck drove and made a tough shot inside to tie the game. He was fouled on the play and sank the free throw to put Ironton up with just five seconds to play.
Gallipolis was looking to get the ball inside to 6-foot-7 center Cade Mock but Freeman came up with a steal to cement the win.
“Braden made a clutch play and then Carson came up with the play of the game. That was a big defensive play. We didn’t want them to get it into their big man,” said Ironton coach Chris Barnes.
Ironton trailed for much of the game as they tried to shake off the cobwebs of a long inactive period due to the inclement winter weather.
But Barnes said most of Ironton’s problems were due to the efforts of the Blue Devils, especially Mock who finished with 20 points.
Gallia also made 24-of-39 field goal attempts for 61.5 percent from the floor.
“I think we were still on Christmas break,” said Barnes. “Give them credit for improving a thousand percent. I said they were better before the game. Mock is playing like a man and no one in the league has a big man. When he plays like that, he’s a problem.
“And they shot the lights out. It seems everybody we play when they’re at home, they make shots they never made at our place.”
Ironton (4-3, 3-1) fell behind 12-2 to start the game and Mock scored 13 points as the lead went to 19-10 at the end of the quarter.
Ironton battled back as Bryce Markins hit a 3-pointer and Freeman made a layup after a steal and assist by Schreck and the game was tied at 26.
Markel Cotton and Schreck hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Ironton was up 35-31 with 19 seconds left in the half. Macen Meadows hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer and the Blue Devils were down 35-34.
“We got some great minutes coming off the bench. Carson did a great job coming off the bench,” said Barnes.
“Markel held his ground and rebounded great. To me, the difference in the game was in the second quarter when we made that comeback and Markel guarding Mock and Freeman came in and made some big plays. It was a team effort.”
Gallia Academy (3-8, 0-6) went on a 7-0 run to start the second half to lead 41-35. A couple of layups by Ironton’s Ashton Layne and a Tyler Roach basket tied the game.
Mock scored but Markins hit another 3-pointer and Ironton led 44-3.
Gabe Hammons and Mock got baskets and the Blue Devils were up 47-46 to end the quarter.
Gallia went up 52-48 to start the fourth quarter but a steal by Cotton and a trifecta by Schreck made it 59-58.
Tripp Sola’s free throw put Gallia up 60-58 with 11 seconds left and set up the big plays by Schreck and Freeman.
Schreck finished with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals.
Meadows scored 12 and Hammons 10 for the Blue Devils.
Ironton 10 25 11 15 = 61
Gallia Acad. 19 15 13 13 = 60
IRONTON (4-3, 3-1): Braden Schreck 5 3 6-8 25, Bryce Markins 1 2 1-2 9, Ashton Layne 4 0 0-0 8, Tyler Roach 2 1 0-0 7, Carson Freeman 3 0 0-0 6, Markel Cotton 0 1 3-4 6, Judah Barnes 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-48 10-14 61. 3-pt goals: 7-22. Rebounds: 6-O 6-D = 12 (Schreck 5, Cotton 4). Assists: 13 (Schreck 8). Steals: 10 (Schreck 2, Markins 2, Layne 2, Cotton 1). Blocks: 1 (Layne). Turnovers: 3. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Cotton.
GALLIA ACADEMY (3-8, 0-6): Ty Reed 3 0 3-4 9, Tripp Sola 1 2 1-2 9, Rees Toler 0 0 0-0 0, Gabe Hammons 5 0 0-0 10, Cade Mock 8 0 4-6 20, Macen Meadows 3 2 0-0 12. Totals: 24-39 8-12 60. 3-pt goals: 4-6. Rebounds: 8-O 18-D = 26. Assists: 11. Steals: 2. Blocks: 1. Turnovers: 16. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
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