JACKSON — Life on the road is usually a bumpy ride.

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers bounced around Wednesday before finally getting in gear as they beat the Jackson Ironladies 52-43 in a Southeastern Ohio Athletic League game.

Ironton jumped out to a 16-1 lead to start the game, then withstood a Jackson rally that cut the deficit to 5 points in the fourth quarter.

“I’m proud of the girls and the way they fought through all the things they had to face,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham.

“It’s always tough to play on the road. Jackson shot better from the outside than they have all year. We had to overcome a lot.”

Ironton (3-1, 1-1) got a big performance from senior guard Brea Tackett who had a game-high 23 points to go with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Janie Morris added 8 points and 9 rebounds.

Jackson (1-2, 0-2) was led by Nicole Chapman with 10 points, Kari Jenkins added 9 points.

Tackett scored 7 points as Ironton ran off the first 13 points of the game. Her trifecta put the lead at 16-1 with 3:06 left in the first quarter.

After getting within 16-6 at the end of the quarter, Jackson was a 6 of 12 from the field in the second quarter and Ironton made just 3 of 9. The change in shooting at Jackson within 25-19, but Tackett made two foul shots and got a layup with nine seconds left in the half and it was 29-19.

“We got a big lead really fast and I think we started to shut it down. You can’t do that, especially that early in the game,” said Graham.

A triple by Rebekkah Potter extended Ironton’s lead to 34-21 to start the second half, but Jackson closed to within 38-32 to end the quarter on a layup and free throw by Chapman.

The Ironladies drew within 40-35 on a foul shot by Kelsey Martin to start the fourth quarter and it was 42-37 with 5:12 left on two foul shots by Mallory Geiger.

A three-point play by Lorna Ceaser with 2:56 to play opened up a 49-40 lead. Martin hit a 3-pointer and it was 49-43, but Potter hit two foul shots and Tackett one over the final 1:37 to seal Ironton’s win.

Ironton hosts Warren in a league game Saturday. The jayvee game begins at noon.

Ironton 16 13 9 14 = 52

Jackson 6 13 13 11 = 43

IRONTON (3-1, 1-1): Rebekkah Potter 1 1 2-4 7, Alex Taylor 1 0 0-0 2, Brea Tackett 4 2 9-12 23, Janie Morris 2 0 4-4 8, Lorna Ceaser 2 0 4-4 8, Nikki Elswick 2 0 0-0 4, Emily Lilly 0 0 0-0 0, Emily Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Lilly 0 0 0-0 0, Ariel Schweickart 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-43 19-24 52. 3-point goals: 3-9. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 10-24=34 (Morris 9, Tackett 5, Elswick 5). Team rebounds: 6. Assists: 8 (Tackett 4, Taylor 3, Potter 1). Steals: 14 (Tackett 4, Potter 4). Turnovers: 18.

JACKSON (1-2, 0-2): Mariah Harless 1 0 0-0 2, Kelsey Martin 0 1 1-2 4, Nicole Chapman 4 0 2-6 10, Mallory Geiger 1 1 2-3 7, Meredith Harless 0 0 0-0 0, Sarah Martin 1 0 0-0 2, Emileigh Cooper 1 1 0-0 5, Kari Jenkins 1 2 1-4 9, Jessica Webb 1 0 0-0 2, Kennedy Shasteen 1 0 0-0 2, Kendra Reed 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-59 6-15 43. 3-point goals: 5-21. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Martin (0:09 4th). Rebounds: 16-20=36 (Geiger 9, Martin 6). Team rebounds: 6. Assists: 4. Steals: 5 (Me. Harless 2). Turnovers: 15.