Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Forget driving a Lexus. The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers were riding their Lexies.

Lexie Washington and Lexie Barrier combined for 32 points — 12 in the fourth quarter — and 16 rebounds as the Lady Tigers upset the Ashland Kittens 51-47 on Thursday.

“The girls played great defensively. They followed the game plan to perfection,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham. “We made some big plays. All the girls played well.”

Washington had 18 points and 11 rebounds while Barrier had 17 pionts, 5 rebounds and 2 key steals.

Allie Slone scored 19 points for Ashland (9-3). Standout guard Alexis Robinson was held to 4 points but she had 10 rebounds.

“Ariel (Schweickart) did a solid job. I have the utmost respect for A-Rob. She works on her game year-round. Ariel did as good of a job on her as you can,” said Graham.

“Lexie (Washington) played really well and Lexie (Barrier) made some big plays at the end. Alicia (Murphy) hit some big shots and Karlee (McMackin) played solid. It was a great team effort, even the girls off the bench.”

The game was tied 4-4 and Ironton went on a 7-0 run to lead 11-4. A 3-pointer by Slone and 12-footer by Sydney Cullop got Ashland within 11-7.

Ashland tied the game 18-18 on a layup by Cullop with 2:33 left in the half, but Ironton went up 20-18 on a layup by Schweickart 20 seconds later and no one scored the rest of the half.

Slone hit a 3-pointer with 1:56 left in the third quarter to give Ashland its first lead of the game at 30-29. Barrier and Schweickart scored to put Ironton ahead 33-30 but a foul shot by Slone and a 3-point play by Madison Jones with one second on the clock gave Ashland a 34-33 advantage.

The game was tied three times to begin the fourth quarter when Ironton took a 45-39 lead on two layups by Washington and a layup by McMackin.

Two foul shots by Cullop tied the game at 45-45 with 1:40 to go. Ashland got the ball back but a steal and layup by Barrier put Ironton ahead for good with 1:01 left.

A steal by McMackin led to a foul and Barrier hit both shots for a 49-45 lead.

Robinson hit a 10-footer with 30 seconds left to draw Ashland within two, but the Kittens fouled Murphy on the inbounds play and she hit both ends of the one-and-one for a 51-47 lead.

Schweickart then came up with a steal with 12 seconds left and Ironton ran out the clock.

Ironton plays at Fairland on Monday.

Ashland 11 7 16 13 = 47

Ironton 13 7 13 18 = 51

ASHLAND (9-3): Haley-Sue Foutch 3 0 0-0 6, Allie Slone 3 4 1-2 19, Sydney Cullop 3 0 2-2 8, Kaylyn Gambill 2 0 0-0 4, Alexis Robinson 2 0 0-0 4, Madison Jones 1 0 1-1 3, Alex Young 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-61 4-5 47. 3-point goals: 5-29. Rebounds: 16-19 = 35 (Robinson 10, Foutch 8, Slone 7). Team rebounds: 3. Assists: 4 (Gambill 2). Steals: 2. Turnovers: 8. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (10-3): Lexie Washington 7 0 1-3 15, Lexie Barrier 6 0 5-5 17, Ariel Schweickart 2 0 1-2 5, Karlee McMackin 3 0 0-0 6, Alicia Murphy 3 0 2-2 8, Macy Wise 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Hannan 0 0 0-0 0, Alana Martin 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-47 9-12 51. 3-point goals: 0-4. Rebounds: 8 offense, 24 defense = 32 (Washington 11, Murphy 7). Team rebounds: 3. Assists: 7 (Schweickart 4). Steals: 4 (Barrier 2). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.