Tigers remain unbeaten with takedown of Waterford

IRONTON — Just call him Microwave.

When Ironton’s junior point guard Brycen Mullins heats up, he does it as quickly as a microwave oven. Mullins did his quick heating up on Friday in the third quarter as the Fighting Tigers beat the Waterford Wildcats 46-30 on the first day of the Ironton Classic.

Ironton (3-0) struggled to score in the first half and led just 10-4 after the first quarter and 18-10 at the half.

But Mullins hit a 3-pointer, sank 2 foul shots and hit another 3-pointer and suddenly the lead was 28-10.

Waterford (2-4) got a layup from Weston Fairchild at the 5:35 mark and Gavin Hiener followed with a 3-pointer and the lead was cut to 28-15.

Maddix Markel and Ashton Layne made layups and Mullins drilled a 25-footer and it was 35-17.

Fairchild’s layup got the difference to 35-19 heading into the fourth quarter.

Ironton led 37-24 when coach Drew Stevens began to empty his bench to keep players fresh for Saturday’s game, especially after playing on Tuesday and Thursday.

The Wildcats got within 37-27 on a 3-point play by Reese Lang with 4:51 left but Ironton was able to maintain the lead as Layne came back in to make a layup and Kayden Edwards converted a 3-point play with 2:59 left and it was 42-27.

Mullins hit a career high five 3-pointers and scored19 points to lead all scorers.

Layne had 10 points, Markel 8, and Edwards 7 in the balanced offense.

Hiener had 12 points including a pair of treys to pace the Wildcats.

Ironton played South Webster on Saturday in the second day of The Classic.

Waterford 4  6    9   11  =  30

Ironton 10 8 17 11  =  46

WATERFORD (2-4): Weston Fairchild 3 0 0-4 6, Gavin Hiener 2 2 2-2 12, Reese Lang 1 1 2-5 7, Finn Pennock 1 1 0-2 5, Avery Pottmeyer 0 0 0-0 0, Colby Roberts 0 0 0-0 0. Joel Jinks 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 7 4 4-14 30. Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (3-0): Wyatt Wolfe 0 0 0-0 0, Maddix Markel 4 0 0-1 8, Ashton Layne 5 0 0-0 10, Brycen Mullins 1 5 2-2 19, Carson Freeman 0 0 0-0 0, Kayden Edwards 3 0 1-2 7, Brian Kidd 0 0 0-0 0, Stephen Ison 1 0 0-0 2, Zayne Williams 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 5 3-5 46. Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.