Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

GALLIPOLIS — Forget the Christmas goose. Try the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ defense and its goose egg.
Ironton held Gallipolis scoreless in the third quarter and went on to rout the Blue Angels 64-41 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday.
Lexie Arden turned in a dominating performance with 26 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots to lead Ironton (3-1, 2-1). Lexi Wise had a big game with 19 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Alex Barnes had 19 points, four rebounds and four steals as Gallipolis (4-1, 1-1) suffered its first loss of the season.
Ironton took a 20-17 first quarter lead as Wise and Katie Boyer scored six points each, Aren had five points including a 3-pointer and Riley Schreck also hit a trifecta.
Barnes scored eight points for the Blue Angels.
Arden took over and scored 10 points in the second quarter and Ironto lead 36-31 at the break. Barnes had nine points to keep Gallipolis close.
But then came the third quarter as Ironton’s defense pitched a shutout while Wise had seven points and Arden hit another triple and scored seven points to open up a 52-31 cushion.
Arden and Wise scored four points each in the fourth quarter before coach Doug Graham emptied his bench.
On Monday, Ironton visits Rock Hill and Gallipolis hosts Coal Grove.
Ironton       20    16    16    12    =    64
Gallipolis    17    14    0    10    =    41
IRONTON (3-1, 2-1): Riley Schreck 1 1 0-0 5, Lexi Wise 6 0 7-1019, Lilly Zornes 2 0 0-0 4, Elli Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Kameren Arden 2 0 0-0 4, Reece Stager 0 0 0-0 0, Katie Boyer 3 0 0-0 6, Sophie Caines 0 0 0-0 0, Meah Phillips 0 0 0-0 0, Lexie Arden 9 2 2-2 26. Totals: 26-52 9-12 64. 3-pt goals: 3-14. Rebounds: 10-O, 23-D = 33 (Arden 14, Wise 10). Assists: 16 (Wise 5). Steals: 11 (Wise 5). Turnovers: 15. Blocked shots: 5 (L. Arden 2). Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.
GALLIPOLIS (4-1, 1-1): Abby Cremeans 0 1 0-0 3, Arianna Jordan 0 0 0-0 0, Alex Barnes 5 2 3-6 19, Hunter Copley 1 1 2-2 7, Ashton Webb 2 0 0-0 4, Maddy Petro 1 0 0-0 2, Macey Siders 0 0 0-0 0, Rylee Sipple 2 0 2-2 6. Totals: 15-52 7-10 41. 3-pt. goals: 4-16. Rebounds: 10-O, 14-D = 24 (Sipple 7, Petro 4, Barnes 4). Assists: 9 (Webb 3). Steals: 10 (Barnes 4). Turnovers: 16. Blocked shots: 1 (Copley). Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.