CANNONSBURG, Ky. — Maybe the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers are planning on writing a new book called “The Five Musketeers.”

No matter which player is on the floor, Ironton coach Amy Hughes said her team is working well together and that teamwork paid off with a 63-47 win over the Belfry Lady Pirates Thursday in the semifinals of the Pepsi/Kentucky Fried Chicken Colonel’s Classic basketball tournament.

“The girls played great team defense and they played well together on offense,” Hughes said. “The defense has been outstanding and the girls really passed the ball well tonight. We’re playing very unselfish. It was a team win in all phases of the game.”

Ironton (9-0) will face Rockcastle County, Ky., in the title game. Rockcastle beat Fleming County 66-62 in double overtime. Fleming County was coming off a 53-52 win over Minford in the opening round.

Sara Hacker had her best all-around game of the season with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Jessica Waddle scored 20 points and had six rebounds and three assists.

Mandi Boykin added 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a couple of steals. Danielle Henderson had six rebounds while Ciara Taylor finished with three assists and three steals.

Amanda Moon scored 20 pointsto lead Belfry (9-3). Falon Thacker grabbed six rebounds.

Ironton dominated the boards 44-22. The Lady Tigers also shot 24 of 55 from the field for 44 percent while holding Belfry to 18 of 49 from the floor (38 percent).

“We did a good job of contesting all their shots. I think our defense just wore them down,” Hughes said.

The first quarter was fast-paced with Ironton taking a 24-20 lead. Hacker had 11 points and Waddle seven in the quarter.

Belfry got within 27-26 on a steal and layup by Nikki Robinette, but Waddles converted a three-point play, Hacker sank a foul shot and Waddle had a layup off a nice pass from Hacker as Ironton went ahead 36-30 at the breat.

Ironton got its running game going in the third quarter and began to pull away. The Lady Tigers used an 8-0 run to end the quarter for a 52-39 lead.

The defense held Belfry to 3 of 15 shooting from the field in the fourth quarter to pull away to the 16-point win.

Belfry201098=47

Ironton24121611=63

BELFRY (9-3): Shae Deskins 2-9 (0-3) 1-2 5, Amanda Moon 7-14 (3-6) 3-5 20, Brittany Chapman 1-2 (0-1) 1-2 3, Mary Beth Johnson 2-6 (1-4) 0-0 5, Brooke Stanley 2-7 (2-3) 0-0 6, Nikki Robinette 1-2 (0-1) 0-0 2, Falon Thacker 3-7 (0-0) 0-0 6, Samantha Kline 0-2 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 18-49

(6-18)

5-9

47. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 4-16=20 (Thacker 6). Team/deadball rebounds: 2. Assists: 7 (Stanley 3). Steals: 9 (Deskins 4). Turnovers: 13. Blocked shots: 2 (Thacker 2).

IRONTON (9-0): Jessica Waddle 6-15 (1-2) 7-8 20, Danielle Henderson 3-7 (0-0) 0-0 6, Mandi Boykin 4-10 (0-0) 3-4 11, Ciara Taylor 2-6 (0-0) 0-0 4, Sara Hacker 9-17 (0-1) 4-5 22, Rachel Walker 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Kayla Wileman 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Mercedes Crockrel 0-0 (0-0) 0-1 0, Edi Taylor 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Jessica Weaver 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 24-55

(1-3)

14-18

63. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 13-22=35 (Hacker 11, Boykin 8, Henderson 6, Waddle 6, Taylor 4). Team/deadball rebounds: 9. Assists: 11 (Boykin 4, Waddle 3). Steals: 8 (Boykin 2). Blocked shots: Hacker 1. Turnovers: 13.