Ironton Storms Out Early, Fends Off South Webster Rally in 64-46 Victory

IRONTON, OH – The Ironton Fighting Tigers utilized a dominant first-half offensive explosion to withstand a third-quarter surge from South Webster, ultimately securing a 64–46 victory on their home floor.

The Tigers and Jeeps both enter this contest unbeaten, South Webster at 5-0 and Ironton at 3-0, but both felt this would be each other's toughest test yet.

From the opening tip, Ironton looked every bit the aggressor, opening up a 20-4 run in the first 5 minutes of the contest, capped off by a Stephen Ison three-pointer, forcing the second Jeep timeout of the first quarter.

The Tigers’ offense was firing on all cylinders, racking up 27 points in the first quarter alone while stifling the Jeeps' attack. By the end of the first frame, Ironton held a commanding 17-point lead.

The momentum stayed firmly with the Tigers through the second quarter. A balanced scoring attack saw Ashton Layne, Stephen Ison, and Brycen Mullins all reach double digits before the break. Mullins, who led the way with 11 first-half points, punctuated a performance that sent Ironton into the locker room with a comfortable 43–23 cushion.

However, the Jeeps made some major adjustments in the locker room. South Webster emerged for the third quarter with a defensive change to force the Tigers into uncomfortable shots and a simplified offensive attack.

South Webster ignited a 9–0 run to start the half. Easton Large sparked the momentum with two quick layups and a bucket from Bryson McClintic. When Brayden Barnard converted a tough layup and completed the three-point play, the once-formidable 20-point lead had been whittled down to just nine.

Sensing the game slipping away, Ironton turned to Mullins and Layne to restore order. The Tigers settled their nerves and turned to their primary scoring duo to navigate the fourth quarter. The pair took over the final stretch, accounting for over two-thirds of Ironton’s second-half scoring. Brycen Mullins finished with a game-high 20 points, while Ashton Layne poured in 17, ensuring the Jeeps' comeback attempt fell short.

Despite the loss, South Webster saw strong individual efforts from Hunter Barnard, who finished with 16 points, and Bryson McClintic, who added 14.

Ironton moves to 4-0 and will host its first OVC matchup of the season, and it’s none other than the reigning regional champions, the Chesapeake Panthers, which is sure to be an early season classic.

South Webster falls to 5-1 as they enter their Christmas break and won’t play again until December 30th when they travel to Symmes Valley.

Ironton

Brycen Mullins (20 pts), Ashton Layne (17 pts), Stephen Ison (10 pts).

50% FG, 42.3% 3PT, 71.4% FT

29 Rebounds, 8 Turnovers

South Webster

Hunter Barnard (16 pts), Bryson McClintic (14 pts).

40% FG, 18.2% 3PT, 44.4% FT

27 Rebounds, 9 Turnovers

Final Score: Ironton 64, South Webster 46.

Gavin Rase

River City Sports Media