Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

MIAMI, Fla. — Maybe the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers just had a little sun in their eyes the first half because they could see clearly in the second half.

Playing in the Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, the Lady Tigers turned a good first half into an excellent second half en route to a 54-21 romp over the Hialeah Gardens Lady Gladiators Thursday.

“One thing we did real well in the second half was finding the open girl,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham. “We came out a little flat, but we were aggressive and we did a good job on the offensive boards.”

Ironton (6-3) dominated the glass 37-18 including 24 on the offensive side. Karlee McMackin and Macy Wise had 7 rebounds each and Alicia Murphy and Lexie Washington had 6 each.

Lexie Barrier had 12 points, 3 assists and 4 steals for Ironton. Ariel Schweickart had 11 points, 3 assists and 4 steals and Taylor Hannan added 8 points, 3 assists and 5 steals.

“We have eight girls who can score,” said Graham.

The Lady Tigers play Southwest Miami at 3 p.m. Friday in the championship game.

Grace Herba scored 16 for Hialeah Gardens (2-12).

Ironton led 13-7 at the end of the first quarter. Barrier scored 6 points in the second quarter as the Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Gladiators 19-4 to build a 32-11 halftime lead.

Ironton held Hialeah to just two free throws in the third quarter and opened up a 51-13 lead.

The Lady Fighting Tigers led by as many as 35 points in the second half. The fourth quarter was played with a running clock.

Ironton 13 19 19 3 = 54

Hialeah 7 4 2 8 = 21

IRONTON (6-3): Lexi Washington 3 0 0-0 6, Lexie Barrier 6 0 0-0 2, Ariel Schweickart 3 0 5-5 11, Karlee McMackin 2 0 0-0 4, Alicia Murphy 1 0 5-10 7, Taylor Hannan 4 0 0-0 8, Macy Wise 2 0 0-0 4, Alana Martin 1 0 0-0 2, Saige Fields 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan Leach 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan Hannan 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-59 10-20 54. Rebounds: 37 (Wise 7, McMackin 7, Murphy 6, Washington 6). Assists: 11 (Barrier 3, Schweickart 3, T. Hannan 3). Steals: 16 (T. Hannan 5, Schweickart 4, Barrier 4). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.

HIALEAH GARDENS (2-12): Grace Herba 5 1 3-5 16, Yasmine Hernandez 0 0 1-2 1, Liz Garcia 0 0 0-0 0, Karina Fernandez 0 0 0-0 0, Jacqueline Abella 0 0 0-0 0, Stephanie Fanuz 1 0 0-0 2, Amanda Deiguez 0 0 0-0 0, Jasmine Rodriguez 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 8-46 4-7 21. Rebounds: 18. Turnovers: 24. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.