By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

MINFORD — Teams who play for the 3-point goal either live by the 3 or die by the 3.

The Minford Lady Falcons were living the high life Monday.

Minford hit 12 3-point goals as they beat the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers 68-49.

Ironton (11-5) didn’t help itself. The Lady Tigers were just 22 of 68 from the field for 32 percent.

Alex Taylor had 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals to pace Ironton. Nikki Elswick had nine rebounds but Ironton’s leading scorer was double and triple teamed the entire game and finished with 10 points.

“They shot the ball really well and we didn’t. It’s hard to beat a team when they hit 12 3-pointers,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham. “Our defense is usually pretty good, but there wasn’t much we could do. It was just their night.”

Kendra Justice hit four 3-pointers and scored 18 points while Abby Donahoe made three long-range shots and scored 16 to lead Minford (10-3). Courtney Spriggs and Kylie Berry each knocked down two 3-pointers.

Minford made seven 3-pointers in the first half as the Lady Falcons went up 33-14 at the half.

Taylor scored eight points and Elswick seven in the third quarter but Minford outscored Ironton 22-17 to take a 55-31 lead.

Ariel Schweickart and Taylor combined for nine points in the fourth quarter as Ironton outscored Minford 18-13 but it not nearly enough to dent the deficit.

Ironton will host Vinton County in the Ironton Shootout on Saturday. The jayvees play at 2:30 p.m. followed by the varsity game at 4 p.m. Fairland and Raceland boys meet at 6 p.m. and Ironton’s boys play Waverly at 8 p.m.

Ironton 8 6 17 18 = 49

Minford 14 19 22 13 = 68

IRONTON (11-5): Alex Taylor 8 0 0-0 16, Nikki Elswick 4 0 2-5 10, Ariel Schweickart 1 1 0-2 5, Karlee McMackin 1 0 0-0 2, Alicia Murphy 5 0 0-2 10, Torie Klaiber 0 0 2-6 2, Kaitlyn Adkins 1 0 0-0 2, Emily Davis 1 0 0-0 2, Taitlyn Dutey 0 0 0-0 0, Saige Fields 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-68 4-15 49. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 1-9. Rebounds: 28 (Elswick 9, Taylor 8). Assists: 11 (Schweickart 4, Taylor 3, Murphy 3). Steals: 8 (Taylor 4, Schweickart 2). Turnovers: 8.

MINFORD (10-3): Rachel Parker 0 0 0-0 0, Courtney Spriggs 0 2 1-2 7, Olivia Thoroughman 0 0 0-1 0, Abby Donahoe 3 3 1-1 16, Carrie Wynn 0 0 1-2 1, Kendra Justice 2 4 2-2 18, Emma Shoemaker 0 1 0-0 3, Kylie Berry 0 2 0-0 6, Laiken Gambill 7 0 0-0 14, Tylin Bender 0 0 1-2 1, Frazee 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 13 12 6-10 68. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.