Wheelersburg vs. Ironton - District Final - 3/12/11 5:00

[The D]

Look for burg to be very,very physical with the younger weaker sophmores from ironton . They have showed a tendency to get very emotional when things don't go there way just imaturity but still it's a weakness I see barrick exploiting . I'll take burg by 4 in a slobber knocker of a game burg will grind a win out.

I would love for this game to go down just like that

[ohbuckeye2]

Look for burg to be very,very physical with the younger weaker sophmores from ironton . They have showed a tendency to get very emotional when things don't go there way just imaturity but still it's a weakness I see barrick exploiting . I'll take burg by 4 in a slobber knocker of a game burg will grind a win out.

lol.......what Sophomores are you calling weak, Fletcher, White, Culbertson, Carter, Glover? They wasn't very weak the last game they played lol.

[4thgoal]

Look for burg to be very,very physical with the younger weaker sophmores from ironton . They have showed a tendency to get very emotional when things don't go there way just imaturity but still it's a weakness I see barrick exploiting . I'll take burg by 4 in a slobber knocker of a game burg will grind a win out.

Burg had 2 sophomores and a freshman on the floor together quite a bit today, so you obviously have no idea what you are talking about.

[Lightle04]

Yes there physical strength is not as important as there mental strength and there coach does a great job of manageing his teams emotions but I think ultimately in this game it will be there down fall . But that's a big if ironton has very good players and burg has a very good team no attitudes they are a very disciplined team you won't see one of there players throwing a fit on the floor . In the end though the best team will win I don't have a dog in this fight just an oppinion and it would not be the first time I have been wrong so good luck to both teams you are both deserving of this oppertunity to addvance on.

[Peake]

Two great coaches and two very good programs.

I hate to pick a loser in this one.

Ironton 59
Burg 55

[Just My Opinion]

Seriously, where was the tiger fans? I would guess and say that there wasn't more than 150 people including their student section (that I didn't see) and don't blame it on Chessy fans either cause there was plenty of vacant seats in the Ironton section. Come on Ironton fans get behind your team and cheer them on to a VICTORY over Wheelersburg. Good luck to coach Lafon and the Tigers.

[KingJames]

Wheelersburg will win

[Eaglesnest]

Advantage players to Ironton but Advantage Burg due to Barrick. Too close to call.

[Tigfan]

We had a lack of fans due to dress rehearsal for the play this week. This will also affect our crowd this weekend.

[greenwave2332]

Good Luck Wheelersburg!!!! and all of the Ironton Fans could have fit in one small section. No town support!

[therepublican]

This game should be a wonderful match-up! Aside of the regular season outcome, this game will be much closer. Being a Burg fan and having watched Stegman all year, there is one way Ironton can put a damper on Burg and that is to run a zone (Like Oak Hill always does, and we can't use the final game of the season as an example because Oak Hill's big men were injured and not playing). Since Stegman plays at the post a lot with his back to the basket and relys a lot on a power dribble and spin (which he commonly gets called for a travel on when it is crunch time and he gets excited) to square up before he shoots, a zone that permits a second guy to crash on Stegman (quick double team) usually shuts him down. Typically, a shooting team would love this because Stegman could kick it out to an open man on the three point line, but Burg is soooo spotty when it comes to outside shooting and makes Stegman do a lot on his own. For those who watched the Burg Peebles game, Stegman owned the man to man D in the first half, he always does and always will. He has a nasty spin move and reverse layup technique that shatters his man, but the zone does not allow Stegman to put the ball on the ground and spin without getting double teamed. Peebles came out doubling Stegman in the second and gave him fits the entire second half and making him non-existent until it became free-throw time down the stretch. If Ironton comes out in this zone, and Burg isn't shooting well (which they have proved to no one their consistency) then it will be big trouble for the Burg.

Now, being a Burg fan (which one would assume my paragraph above is semi-critical, but accuratly states what I myself have seen all year) I think Burg has a fair chance to win. How so? The excitement and momentum will do so. As we all have seen at Convo games, momentum is huge! Shooting streaks and fouls always shift the momentum and somehow keeps teams in games. Burg MUSt make free throws because they are going to need every point in this one. I think a smart shooting game by Burg is an absolute. What I mean by smart is, no chuck-ups after one pass from the point guard to the wing. Our wing players get excited from time to time and like to throw up three's when the time isn't right. I think a solid wing to post (stegman) will be important, engaging Ironton into foul trouble early will be everything for Burg.

One Note to mention- One player deserves a lot of recognition after the Peebles game, and that is Dillon Miller. He is a Freshman that stepped up like a senior. He was not afraid to shoot, rebounded, and more importantly played D tremendously. Miller's minutes obviously kept Ward out more than usual, but Ward and Miller interchanged a lot when we needed rebouding or D Ward was in, and when we needed a scoring threat, Miller was in. Ward isn't much of a scoring threat but deserves a lot of credit for his D, but having 5 scoring guys on the floor with Miller was IMO, the big boost that elevated Burg over Peebles. It opened the paint for Stegman, rather than having Ward in the post and allowing Ward's man to drop over on Stegman.

For Ironton, Ironton simply has to play their ball. It is as simple as that. It will be up to Burg if they let momentum and mistakes keep them from winning, I can only hope they fight the crowd and momentum for a WIN!

[ohbuckeye2]

Wheelersburg big, Ironton won't have enough Fans in the stands.........crap, I knew it would come down to that.

I'm guessing We had close to the same amount of fans at the game the last time Ironton beat Wheelersburg by 18, maybe less I don't know.

Irontons inside presence of Fletcher, Elliott, and White, Murphy when in the game is better than Peebles inside players were. I don't think Wheelersburg matches up well against Carter and Morton IMO.

I won't be at the game, have to work. Good Luck Tigers, don't let Me not being there keep you from playing your game. :122245

GO TIGERS.........

[danicalifornia]

Tigers by 7. Should be a great game.

[Peake]

I keep going back and forth but the difference to me is post play. Stegman is a very good player, but there is only one of him. I feel Ironton can control him by fronting the post and bringing over T. White for backside help.

I love TB, he is as good a coach as there is in all of Ohio, but Lafon has went to the regionals now how many times in his short career at Ironton (2 regional finals and a regional semi?). With the schd that Ironton plays I always feel that they are battle tested once the tournament rolls around.

Sticking with my pick, I like the Tigers to get back to the sweet 16.

[4thgoal]

I don't think Wheelersburg matches up well against Carter and Morton IMO.

Is Morton injured or just not part of the lineup anymore? He didn't get into the game until the middle of the 3rd quarter against Meigs and he was not playing nearly to the level he played when Burg visited Ironton. Carter is definitely a tough matchup for any guard in SEO.

[NewEra]

Burg will win, more discipline.

[yabbadabbadoo]

The thing I see with Carter is that he likes to fly down the lane alot. If Burg can get a charge call or two on him early, that would be huge, but you just don't see alot of charges being taken anymore.


Burg will need to crash the boards and make sure the guards stay back to keep Carter from getting easy layups. He will be the fastest guard Burg has seen all year and seeing that they have already seen them once, they know what to expect out of him.

[biggdowgg]

The thing I see with Carter is that he likes to fly down the lane alot. If Burg can get a charge call or two on him early, that would be huge, but you just don't see alot of charges being taken anymore.


Burg will need to crash the boards and make sure the guards stay back to keep Carter from getting easy layups. He will be the fastest guard Burg has seen all year and seeing that they have already seen them once, they know what to expect out of him.

you should have been at the green/whiteoak gamne with bg77

[bballin]

I believe this will be a much closer game than there previous match up. Irontons team runs thru Carter and Fletcher. Where as Burgs team runs thru all players on the court. Sure Carter avg's 20 + a game, if you allow the kid to get off 30 shots a night you will have that and he has the green light to do that. Burg did a good job on Justice Sunday night and I look for the same D on Carter come Saturday. Fletcher is a good athlete as well . I take nothing away from them two but I believe you win as a team and Burg plays as a team. Ironton will focus on shutting Stegman down and yes Burg will have to hit there shots behind the arc. They have the athletes and talent to do it and I believe will this game. But in saying that if a kid misses one or two shots he dont need to quit shooting the rest of the night and some of Burgs guards have fell into that this year. Go BURG !!

[fightingtigers45]

For the Ironton fans attending the game...please purchase the tickets in advance at the IHS Auto Shop or at Bob Linn's.