LLOYD, Ky. — The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers may need to learn CPR if this keeps up.

In their third straight heart-stopper, the Lady Tigers held off the Greenup County Lady Musketeers 58-53 Monday in a non-league game.

“I don’t know if my heart can take any more of this,” Ironton coach Doug Graham said.

For the third straight game, Ironton took a double-digit lead before having to hang on for the win. This time, Ironton led by as many as 18 points but unlike the previous two games they never lost the lead.

Ironton took a 44-26 lead on a layup by Mercedes Crockrel with three minutes left in the third quarter. The lead was 46-29 at the end of the quarter.

The Lady Musketeers then converted 11 of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter to help outscore Ironton 24-12 and got within 57-53 with 26 seconds left on two foul shots by Bridget Gibson.

But Ironton continued to show its poise in a tight situation as Kayla Wileman sank a free throw with 17 seconds left to push the lead to 58-53 and the defense forced a bad 3-point attempt to end the game.

Wileman came up big in the fourth quarter as she connected on 5 of 8 free throw attempts over the final 1:57 to help Ironton maintain its lead.

“Kayla did a nice job. Those free throws were crucial,” Graham said.

Jessica Waddle and Mandi Boykin triggered Ironton’s offense in the first half. Waddle had 10 of her 15 points in the first half including a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter as the Lady Tigers outscored Greenup 21-8 to take a 35-22 lead at the break.

Boykin scored 11 of her 14 points in the first half. She didn’t score again until the fourth quarter when she was 3 of 4 at the line.

Crockrel also had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Boykin also had 5 assists and 4 steals.

Greenup County got 17 points and 12 rebounds from Sexton. Cari Berry added 16 points and 7 rebounds.

Ironton plays at Chillicothe Wednesday and needs a win to clinch at least a tie for the SEOAL South Division title.

Ironton14211112=58

Greenup148724=53

IRONTON (12-2): Jessica Waddle 3 2 3-4 15, Mercedes Crockrel 6 0 2-2 14, Kayla Wileman 2 0 5-8 9, Mandi Boykin 3 1 5-6 14, Rachel Walker 1 0 0-4 2, Michelle Pancake 1 0 2-2 4, Sami Morgan 0 0 0-1 0, Jessica Weaver 0 0 0-0 0, Brea Tackett 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-39

17-27

58. 3-point goals: 3-3. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 6-19=25 (Crockrel 10, Pancake 5, Walker 4). Team rebounds: 2. Assists: 7 (Boykin 5). Steals: 9 (Boykin 5, Crockrel 2). Turnovers: 17. Blocked shots: 1 (Walker).

GREENUP COUNTY (8-6): Sara Sexton 6 0 5-10 17, Bridget Gibson 0 1 2-2 5, Cari Barry 5 0 6-6 16, Megan Boggs 1 0 0-0 2, Megan Issac 1 1 2-2 7, Amanda Hamilton 2 0 0-0 4, Erica Pope 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 18-48

15-20

53. 3-point goals: 2-12. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Barry (4th 3:14). Rebounds: 13-17=30 (Sexton 12, Barry 7, Gibson 6). Team rebounds: 4. Assists: 5 (Issac 2). Steals: 9 (Gibson 4). Turnovers: 15. Blocked shots: 1 (Hamilton).

RESERVES: Ironton 36, Greenup County 15. Ironton scoring leaders: Janie Morris 13, Brea Tackett 12. Greenup: Ashley Barlow 4.