Defense leads Lady Fighting Tigers past Greenup
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Now, that’s defense.
The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers were leading just 22-20 at halftime and the Greenup County Lady Musketeers’ 6-foot-2 center Sara Sexton had 10 points and was causing lots of problems.
But a defensive adjustment at the half left Sexton scoreless the second half and Ironton ran away to a 55-38 win Monday.
“Our defense in the second half was about as good as we’ve played all season,” Ironton coach Amy Hughes said. “Mandi Boykin did a great job not letting (Sexton) get the ball.”
With Sexton unable to get the ball, the rest of the Lady Musketeers were unable to score from the outside. Greenup County was just 13 of 50 from the field for the game and 6 for 29 in the second half or 21 percent.
Conversely, Ironton heated up in the second half and hit 12 of 23 shots for 52 percent from the field. The Lady Tigers also converted 15 of 18 free throw attempts.
“We did a better job offensively in the second half. We missed too many layups in the first half,” Hughes said.
Ironton (13-2) opened the game with a 10-0 run that started with a Jessica Waddle baseline jumper and ended with the same.
Sarah Tavis hit a 3-pointer with 3:08 left in the quarter for Greenup’s first basket and a three-point play by Sexton cut the deficit to 12-9 at the end of the quarter.
A layup by Sexton, another 3-pointer by Tavis and a basket by Sexton put Greenup ahead 16-12.
But Ironton came back to take a 22-18 lead with a 10-2 run capped by Ciara Taylor’s layup off a pass from Sara Hacker after a steal by Waddle.
Cari Berry’s layup made it a 22-20 game at the break.
While the Ironton offense ran off 16 unanswered points to begin the second half, the defense took over and held Greenup scoreless until a 15-footer by Molly Slater with 1:15 left on the third quarter clock.
Ironton led 40-26 heading into the fourth quarter. Hacker hit from the baseline and Boykin from 17-feet to begin the quarter.
Mercedes Crockrel sank two foul shots for a 46-26 lead with 4:13 to play.
Taylor and Danielle Henderson hit back-to-back baskets, Waddle made two free throws and Crockrel one as the lead ballooned to 53-29 and Hughes emptied her bench.
Waddle had 17 points and Henderson 10 to lead the offense. Boykin had nine points, six rebounds and four assists. Hacker grabbed nine rebounds to go with eight points and Taylor had seven rebounds.
Tavis led Greenup County (6-10) with 11 points.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for Ironton, now 13-2.