Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

For three quarters, the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers were playing with the defending state champions.

Then came the fourth quarter.

Columbus Africentric — last season’s Division III state champions — used a strong fourth quarter to pull away from the Lady Tigers and post a 54-46 win on Tuesday in the Ironton Classic.

Ironton (4-2) led 11-6 at the end of the first quarter and held an 18-16 advantage at the break.

The Nubians rallied in the third quarter to go ahead 34-30 and then outscored Ironton 20-6 in the fourth quarter.

Lexie Barrier scored 16 points to lead Ironton while Sydney Webb had 9 points including a pair of 3-pointers.

Dejanique Franks had 18 points and Leah Morrow 17 to pace Africentric (8-2).

Ironton visits Oak Hill on Monday.

Africentric 6 10 18 20 = 54

Ironton 11 7 12 6 = 36

AFRICENTRIC (8-2): Dayuna Johnson 2 0 0-0 4, Dejanique Franks 5 1 5-6 18, Leah Morrow 6 0 5-6 17, De’Jae Denham 2 0 1-2 5, Kynnedy Azubike 2 0 1-2 5, Taylor Nixon 1 0 0-0 2, Renee Waters 1 0 1-2 3. Totals: 19 1 13-18 54.

IRONTON (4-2): Cheyenne Scott 1 0 0-0 2, Lexi Wise 3 0 1-2 7, Zakia Lee 0 0 2-2 2, Lexie Barrier 7 2-2 16, Sydney Webb 1 2 1-2 9, Jordan Hannan 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Hannan 0 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Lewis 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 2 6-8 36.