Ironton 71 VS Fairland 65 - FINAL

[duke]

Hatfield led Fairland with 20-some. Easy to do when you take as many shots as he did. Some of the shots he took were absolutely ridiculous. Being a senior, you would think he would learn to take care of the ball, but he is still a turnover machine. He's not a team player...backyard player yes....team player no.

If he didn't take those shots, they are not in that game. He is a HECK of a ball player !! They have a GOOD team !! Ironton will get better. Lamb had a rough nite. I would not have wished to be in his shoes. The clutch free throws at the end showed he can handle his own. Good Luck to both, They should have good seasons !! Hope they meet at the Convo again !!

Agreed. (Think smartguy06 should rename himself to "REALLY NOT" smartguy06.)

Ironton has a very athletic team and are lucky to have Lamb. They should go even farther than last year. Have a great year!
Fairland played hard and should be proud of their effort. Great job and much success this year!
It was a fun game to watch no matter who you were rooting for.

[ohbuckeye2]

Sounds like someone isn't getting enough playing time .I wonder how Ironton would have done had you taken away all the transfers and play with the cards delt you.Not a bad job by Fairland losing their best player to Ironton plus getting a Huntington guy and the kid from the Burg last year and only winning by 6 WOW

And losing a starter to South Point..........

Get over it, we would still be OK.

We have a pretty deep bench of which several could be starters.

[Rhiannon]

Sounds like someone isn't getting enough playing time .I wonder how Ironton would have done had you taken away all the transfers and play with the cards delt you.Not a bad job by Fairland losing their best player to Ironton plus getting a Huntington guy and the kid from the Burg last year and only winning by 6 WOW

Your post sounds like someone who is mad because his cousin can't recruit that good

I think that it is great that Lafon has enough talent on the team to run the boys in and out, but I will admit that sometimes when he takes someone out it seems to me that it is the kid that is playing well and on a roll at the time. But hey I am not the coach, just what I think, which doesn't really mean a whole lot.

The Tigers need to work on foul shots. Come on guys those are the free points, no clock running, and could make or break the game. Hey I know it is a lot easier said than done but they should be making those. Just ask Memphis how important they are and they were also the nail in our in coffin the season we went to state. Hopefully we will improve as the season goes on the foul shots.

Fairland looked really good. Had some great shooters on the team and they sure did hustle up and down the floor. That impresses me more than shooting. Good luck the rest of the season.

Good luck to the Tigers on Saturday night. I will be there to root you guys on.

[gotigers]

Sounds to me like Lafon couldn't coach if he wasn't loaded with tallent.He just got by last night.He started with Zornes left overs and had the best player in the area and then kept moving them in after that.Why was he not successful at South Point and Chesapeake. He lost more than he won at those two schools.Not enough tallent I guess

Zornes left-overs??? First, this isn't college, so you are stuck with the guys that are in your school, which by the way was ONE starter. Did Zornes just win with Barnes left-overs??? We can all agree on that answer! Also, seems to me that Lafon did a pretty good job in his first season; considering Brigham Waginger transfered to South Webster and he defeated Patrick Patterson and the Huntington High machine with 5 foot 8 inch Michael Phillips guarding him. Lafon is a good role model and a good coach. If his reputation brings in talented kids from the area to play for him, then it sounds like a win-win for the kids and Ironton basketball!

GO TIGERS!!!

[Rhiannon]

Sounds to me like Lafon couldn't coach if he wasn't loaded with tallent.He just got by last night.He started with Zornes left overs and had the best player in the area and then kept moving them in after that.Why was he not successful at South Point and Chesapeake. He lost more than he won at those two schools.Not enough tallent I guess

What's wrong didn't he ask your cousin to help him coach?

Oh and by the way,isn't he one of the 1st coaches in the OVC to beat Norm both at home and away during those years when Norm and the Peake dominated the OVC? I'll go ahead and answer that for you, YES.

Oh and by the way Jumper, this is a thread about the Ironton-Fairland game. Not a thread about Coach Lafon......

[85inside]

I think this topic was going south, until Go Tigers posted. I agree 100% with GoTigers on this one. You hit the nail on the head.

Ironton was playing in their first game of the season and there was some rust. I believe fairland played hard and they probably got the most out of what they had. Many times, you play better and harder at home than on the road. The Dragons had plenty of incentive to be "up" for this game as well.

Rhiannon is correct about free throw shooting. We must get better if we want to be a District finalist or a regional qualifier. I like the looks of the kids that are on the floor. I like the fact that Ironton can go deep into the bench. I didnt hear much from Coach Lafon last night. It looked to me like we may still be looking for combinations and the right mix of players. I would say that will be going on from now until mid January or so. As the season progresses, i see alot of football getting taken out of Lamb, Schweickart, Wagginger, Webb and Edens. The shooting will come back around.
With over 500+ wins, there is no doubting Coach Roger Zornes' hallof fame career. However, with him moving on from being Ironton's coach, I will take my chances with Mark Lafon. I believe he has enjoyed 15 wins+ in at least 2 or 3 seasons out of the 3 he has been at Ironton. As for winning at South Point? What is your definition of "winning at South Point?" How many coaches have "won" at South Point in basketball? The coach there last year won 20 straight, until he lost to......Coach Lafon.

[juke boxer]

85 inside.... and again I say.....

[Amen Corner]

I heard Huggins was there

[bucking red]

85 you are right FHS did play hard but they didn't play up to their capabilities by a long shot.

[ItownHosscat]

I don't think Ironton did either.Both teams having just started looked rusty.
Hope we get to see it again at the Convo...no excuses next time.

[buckeyes41]

as good as hatfield is, if you don't give him a break he is going to struggle in the 4th everytime. at least early in the season. he was very tired at the end and his legs seemed to be gone. both teams played hard especially Jordan for FHS. hard worker on the court!! great job by all, goodluck to both teams.

[juke boxer]

I heard Huggins was there

This man you speak of, he might have been there. I do know where he is NOT going to be on the 22 & 23 of Dec. I wish not to speak of this subject again!

[85inside]

Juke Boxer, I know where you can score 4 tickets to the OSU-WVU basketball game on the 27th of December. Lower arena sections 106(2) and section 111(2). Give me a shout if you are willing to pay $50/ticket for them.

[GalliaGrad78]

If Lafon would stick with the five (Best) players on the floor Ironton wins by 15... Keep the subs on the bench until you get in foul trouble

That is the EXACT mentality that cost Gallia Academy the regional semi a few years ago. You must provide rest during a game.

[caglewis]

If Lafon would stick with the five (Best) players on the floor Ironton wins by 15... Keep the subs on the bench until you get in foul trouble

Ironton's "subs on the bench" are hugely productive players!
It strikes me as a smart decision to play "deep", get a lot of players involved and experienced, rather than use and depend on only five. Who knows who might get hurt or sick? I think "deepness of bench" is a huge advantage in any game - and you can only get that by developing and playing ALL the players on the team - way more than just 5!