By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

WHEELERSBURG — Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

With a 9-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers appeared on their way to their 13th win.

But then it happened.

“It” was a one for 10 shooting and eight turnovers in the fourth quarter that enabled Wheelersburg to rally for a 40-36 win Monday.

Ironton hurt itself with 25 turnovers — 15 in the second half and many were unforced errors.

“The tough part is most of our turnovers were self-inflicted,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham. “We just have to go back to work and learn from the mistakes we made in this game and correct them in the future.”

Ironton (12-6) had held the Lady Pirates to single digit scoring in each of the first three quarters. The Lady Pirates were 2 of 23 from behind the 3-point line during that time but made 3 of 5 long-range shots in the fourth quarter

“We were contesting their shots and not letting them get set. They were shooting the ball quick,” said Graham. “But in the fourth quarter we backed off and let them get a good look. You can’t do that with Wheelersburg. That’s their game.”

Nikki Elswick led Ironton with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Alex Taylor had 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Ariel Schweickart had eight steals.

Molly Knapp scored 17 points while Kalyn Bailey grabbed 10 rebounds for Wheelersburg (12-3).

The game was tied 15 times and the lead exchanged hands 12 times.

Ironton led 19-18 at the half as Elswick scored 10 points.

Wheelersburg went up 22-21 on a layup by Fay Proehl with 4:15 left in the third quarter, but Taylor converted a 3-point play, Elswick followed up her own missed shot and Schweickart made layup and Ironton led 28-22 with 2:52 on the clock.

A layup by Elswick and a layup by Karlee McMackin off a pass from Elswick pushed Ironton’s lead to 33-24 at the end of the third quarter.

But then came the fourth quarter.

Knapp hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Lady Pirates back on top for good at 35-33 with 4:24 to go. A layup by Proehl extended it to 37-34.

Erica Schmidt was left wide open as Ironton tried to trap the ball and her layup makde it 39-34.

Elswick’s putback with 23 seconds left — Ironton’s only field goal of the quarter — cut the deficit to 39-36.

Emily Davis got a steal with 11 seconds left to give Ironton a chance to tie the game, but their 3-point goal attempt missed and Bailey rebounded with two-tenths of a second left. She was foul and hit a free throw to set the final score.

Ironton 9 10 14 3 = 36

Wheelersburg 9 9 6 16 = 40

IRONTON (12-6): Alex Taylor 1 0 1-1 3, Nikki Elswick 9 0 0-0 18, Ariel Schweickart 2 0 2-5 6, Karlee McMackin 1 0 0-0 2, Alicia Murphy 2 0 1-2 5, Emily Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Torie Klaiber 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 16-44 4-8 36. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: Taylor (4th 0:00.2). 3-point goals: 0-7. Rebounds: 10 offense, 28 defense = 38 (Elswick 13, Taylor 10). Team/deadball rebounds: 7. Assists: 10 (Taylor 7, Davis 2). Steals: 15 (Schweickart 8, Taylor 4). Turnovers: 25.

WHEELERSBURG (12-3): Sadie Ruby 0 1 0-0 3, Kalyn Bailey 3 0 1-2 7, Molly Knapp 3 3 2-5 17, Corey Turner 0 0 0-0 0, Erica Schmidt 1 1 0-0 5, Loran Spradlin 1 0 2-2 4, Fay Proehl 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 14-46 5-9 40. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 5-28. Rebounds: 7offense, 21 defense = 28 (Bailey 10). Team/deadball rebounds: 2. Assists: 6 (Ruby 3). Steals: 8 (Bailey 3, Schmidt 2). Turnovers: 17.