LANCASTER — It was the game that didn’t want to end. But in the end, it was the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ season that grudgingly ended.

In a game filled with “what ifs,” the Sugarcreek Garaway Lady Pirates outlasted the Lady Fighting Tigers 47-42 in double overtime to win the Division III regional championship Saturday and a berth in the state tournament.

“We had our chances and Garaway did what it had to do to win,” Ironton coach Amy Hughes said. “We played great defense the whole game and maintained our intensity. They try to lull you to sleep and we only had three or four breakdowns.

“I’m proud of our girls’ effort. They left everything on the floor. To lose in the regional finals in double overtime is no shame. We just came up a little short.”

Each team had a chance to win the game in regulation, but each team was guilty of a turnover.

Ironton tied the game 35-35 on a 3-pointer by Mandi Boykin with 2:06 left in the fourth quarter.

Garaway held the ball until throwing the ball out of bounds with nine seconds left. However, Ironton was called for a travel with two seconds left and forced the overtime.

Each team scored four points in the first overtime. Jessica Waddle’s two foul shot with 1:18 on the clock tied he game at 39-39. Garaway went up 42-39 to start the second overtime. Waddle hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 42-42 with 2:46 left.

Tessa Swartzentruber made the second of two foul shots with 1:05 left to take the led for good. Ironton then missed two shots from close range and Molly Hershberger sank two foul shots with 42 seconds left and it was 45-42.

Ironton missed two more shots inside forcing more fouls. Laura Bardall and Erica Hershberger each made a free throw to complete the scoring with eight seconds to play.

Ironton missed its last five field goal attempts and shot just 4 of 16 from the field in the first half.

“We missed enough layups in the first half to have a 10-point lead,” Hughes said.

The game was tied 6-6 after the first quarter as Sara Hacker scored four points for Ironton. She finished with eight.

“They pushed our offense out. (Carol Stingel) started to guard me more one-on-one. I couldn’ get the ball as much,” Hacker said.

Garaway had a 15-9 lead with 2:24 left in the second quarter on a layup by Bardall. Two foul shots each by Boykin and Waddle closed the gap to 15-13 at the half. The Lady Pirates were up 25-17 in the third quarter after a 3-pointer by Molly Hershberger. A 3-pointer by Hacker and a three-point play by Waddle got Ironton within 26-25 before a 3-pointer by Molly Hershberger at the buzzer made it 28-25.

Ironton had inserted Kayla Wileman and Mercedes Crockrel in the third quarter to add speed and put more pressure on the stall ball tactics of the Lady Pirates.

The plan worked as Ironton came back to tie the game 35-35 on Boykin’s 3-pointer and set up the marathon finish.

Ironton finished the season 23-3.

“We had a good year,” Hacker said.

Hughes praised her team’s effort, especially seniors Ciara Taylor, Danielle Henderson and Hacker, all starters.

“Those three are a big part of our success. We’re really going to miss them,” Hughes said.

Ironton67101243= 42

Garaway6913748= 47

IRONTON (23-3): Jessica Waddle 5-16 (1-4) 9-9 20, Danielle Henderson 0-2 (0-0) 0-0 0, Mandi Boykin 3-11 (1-1) 5-7 12,

Ciara Taylor 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Sara Hacker 3-7 (1-2) 1-2 8, Kayla Wileman 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Mercedes Crockrel 1-1 (0-0) 0-2 2.

Totals: 12-37 (3-7)

1-20

42. Fouls;19. Fouled out; Boykin (6th 0:08). Rebounds: 5-13=18 (Boykin 6, Waddle 5, Taylor 2, Hacker 2). Team/deadball rebounds; 4. Assists: 3 (Boykin 3). Steals: 4 (Boykin, Taylor, Waddle, Wileman). Turnovers: 10.

SUGARCREEK GARAWAY (24-2): Laura Bardall 4-12 (0-2) 2-4 10, Bree Zehnder 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Molly Hershberger 3-10 (3-7) 3-4 12, Erica Hershberger 4-7 (0-0) 3-7 11, Carol Stingel 4-5 (0-0) 3-4 11, Tessa Swartzentruber 1-2 (0-0) 1-2 3, Katie Hall 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0.

Totals: 16-37

(3-10)

12-21

47. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 6-20=26 (Bardall 10, Stingel 6, Swartzentruber 6). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Assists: 9 (Bardall 2, M. Hershberger 2, Swartzentruber 2). Steals: 5 (E. Hershberger 3). Turnovers: 12.