Montgomery, Falcons Spoil Ironton's Opener

Ironton's Markel Cotton (14) goes for a blocked shot. (Photo by Tim Gearhart)

Minford's Myles Montgomery lays in two points. (Photo by Tim Gearhart)

Ironton's Braden Schreck boxes out. (Photo by Tim Gearhart)

IRONTON — When you get started late with practice due to 8 of your 13 players on the state championship football team, and you open with possibly the best team in Southeast Ohio, the scenario doesn’t look very promising.

And although they fell short, the Ironton Fighting Tigers battled the Minford Falcons from opening tip to the final whistle in a 79-68 loss on Friday in the annual Ironton Classic.

“That’s a heck of a team. They’re five or six and oh. For us, that’s a heck of an opener,” said Ironton coach Chris Barnes of the Falcons who are now 5-0.

“We’re learning on the fly. We got some good performances off the bench. Bryce Markins shot the ball very, very well. That’s good to see.”

Markins scored 21 points on seven 3-pointers to lead Ironton. Braden Schreck had 18 points and 5 assists, Maddix Markel 12 points and 2 steals, and Markel Cotton 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

Minford was led by Myles Montgomery with a game-high 29 points as he became the school’s all-time leading scorer. Bennett Kayser had 16 points, Ty Borland 12 and Jackson Shoemaker 11.

“Braden came on, especially in the second half. It’s going to take some time,” said Barnes. “You hate to lose. It was actually closer than the final score. We had to foul at the end. I was proud of the effort. I knew we wouldn’t quit.”

Minford took an early 21-16 lead in the first quarter.

Markins drained four 3-pointers to keep Ironton close.

Although Ironton closed the gap in the second quarter,  Minford scored the final 5 points of the half to take a 38-28 lead.

Kayser scored 2 of his 8 points and Montgomery hit a 3-pointer to give Minford the halftime cushion. Schreck scored 7 points and Markins hit a trifecta for Ironton.

“We made two mistakes and they were up 10 at halftime and it could have been tied,” said Barnes. ‘Then we came out and got within three, five, three, five. We just couldn’t get over the hump.”

Markel and Schreck scored 7 points each and Markins nailed another trey as Ironton got within 4 points at one point in the third quarter and trailed 54-49 heading into the fourth quarter.

Needing to catch the Falcons, Ironton was forced to foul and Minford rose to the occasion by converting 15-of-20 free throws. Montgomery was 6-of-6 at the line to go with his only field goal of the half. Shoemaker was 4-of-6 and Ashton Reeder 3-of-4 at the line.

Minford 21 17 16 25 = 79

Ironton 16 12 21 19 = 68

MINFORD (5-0): Kade Glockner 1 2 1-2 9, Ashton Reeder 3 1 3-4 12, Myles Montgomery 6 1 14-16 29, Ty Borland 3 1 3-4 12, Mark Napier 0 0 0-0 0, Colt Donahoe 1 0 0-0 2, Jackson Shoemaker 2 1 4-6 11, Bennett Kayser 4 0 8-8 16. Totals: 21-53 32-38 79. 3-pt goals: 5-19. Rebounds: 7-O 23-D = 30. Assists: 11. Steals: 7. Blocks: 2. Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None. 

IRONTON (0-1): Bryce Markins 7 0-0 21, Braden Schreck 5 0 8-11 18, Maddix Markel 5 0 3-4 12, Markel Cotton 4 0 4-4 12, Tyler Roach 2 0 0-0 4, Judah Barnes 0 0 0-0 0, Ashton Layne 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-49 15-19 68. 3-pt goals: 7-18. Rebounds: O-6, D-17 = 23 (Cotton 7, Layne 7). Assists: 14 (Schreck 5, Barnes 3, Cotton 3). Steals: 5 (Markel 2). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 22. Fouled out: Markel.