Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

If at first you don’t succeed, keep shooting.

Ironton was only 4 of 15 from the field in the first quarter and led just 10-5. But the Lady Fighting Tigers began to heat up en route to a 60-34 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Coal Grove Lady Hornets on Thursday.

“We missed some shot we usually make. I told the girls to keep shooting and that the shots would start to fall. They hit a few shots and their confidence kept getting better,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham.

Sydney Webb continued her hot shooting with a game-high 21 points including five 3-point goals. She also had a pair of assists and five steals.

Lexie Barrier had a stellar all-around game with her first triple-double. Barrier scored 20 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, came up with 10 steals and also blocked four shots.

Lexi Wise had 9 rebounds and D’Laynie Keith grabbed 7 as Ironton out-rebounded Coal Grove 41-32.

“The steals were good and the rebounding was big because we got possession of the ball,” said Barrier.

“It was a big win. Everyone was saying Coal Grove was one of the teams to beat (in the league). We played really good. We’re getting better. The intensity in practice is better. Everybody wants it.”

The loss dampened a big night for Coal Grove senior guard Jacy Jones who had 21 points and five rebounds.

Jones sank two foul shots with 2:20 left in the third quarter that gave her 1,000 career points.

Summer Willis had 8 rebounds and Leslie Mulkey pulled down 5.

Leading 10-5, Barrier and Webb drained trifectas to begin the second quarter, Zakia Lee made a foul shot and Barrier knocked down another trey as the lead exploded to 20-5 with 4:28 left in the half.

Jones had a layup at the 3:40 mark to snap the run, but a layup by Lexi Wise off a pass from Barrier with four seconds left in the half put Ironton ahead 32-12 at the break.

“Giving up 12 points in the first half was big,” said Graham. “We had a lull in the third quarter, but any time a good team is down 20 points at the half they are going to come out fired up.”

Jones hit a pair of 3-pointers and Emily Compliment had a layup as Coal Grove cut the spread to 35-19, but Webb dropped in another triple and two free throws by Kenzie Ashley and Keith helped open up a 44-26 lead.

Webb hit yet another 3-pointer with 3:44 left that gave Ironton its biggest lead at 51-28.

Ironton is now 8-2 overall and 6-0 in the league.

“This is a fun group to coach. They’re fun in the locker room and they’re fun on the floor. I’m enjoying them more than ever,” said Graham.

Ironton will hosts Portsmouth at 5:30 p.m. on Monday in a varsity-only game.

Also, Ironton will honor the boys and girls 2004-05 Final Four teams on Friday, Jan. 23, when the Fighting Tigers play Fairland.

Coal Grove 5 7 14 8 = 34

Ironton 10 22 12 16 = 60

COAL GROVE (6-5, 4-2): Jacy Jones 3 3 6-7 21, Emily Compliment 1 0 4-7 6, Leah Crum 0 1 0-0 3, Leslie Mulkey 0 0 0-0 0, Summer Willis 1 0 0-0 2, Sydney Conley 0 0 0-0 0, Kaylee Beals 0 0 0- 0, Kasey Murphy 0 0 0-0 0, Maddy McKenzie 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 10-36 10-14 34. 3-point goals: 4-15. Rebounds: 11-O, 21-D = 32 (Willis 8, Jones 5, Mulkey 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 7. Assists: 1. Steals: 2. Turnovers: 24. Fols: 14. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (8-2, 6-0): Lexi Wise 2 0 0-2 4, D’Laynie Keith 0 0 4-4 4, Jordan Hannan 1 0 0-0 2, Lexie Barrier 4 3 3-4 20, Sydney Webb 3 5 0-0 21, Zakia Lee 2 0 1-2 5, Kenzie Ashley 1 0 2-2 4, Kara Spencer 0 0 0-0 0, Kaylin Easterling 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-62 10-14 60. 3-point goals: 8-18. Rebounds: 23-O, 18-D = 41 (Barrier 10, Wise 9, Keith 7). Team/deadball rebounds: 4. Assists: 8 (Barrier 3, Webb 2, Hannan 2). Steals: 17 (Barrier 10, Webb 5). Blocked shot: 7 (Barrier 4, Wise 3). Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.