By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers did what they wanted.

Except make shots.

Ironton struggled from the field with 24 percent shooting and the result was a 61-35 loss to the unbeaten Oak Hill Lady Oaks on Monday.

The Lady Tigers were just 11 of 46 from the field and a mere 8 of 32 within 10 feet of the basket.

“We played pretty good defense and contested shots, and we handled their pressure. I thought Emily Davis looked better. But we couldn’t hit an shots and we had good looks,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham.

“But Oak Hill is one of the better teams in the state of Ohio. They expose your weaknesses. We didn’t control their offensive rebounding. They see the floor well and cut to the open areas.”

Ironton (1-5) had 14 turnovers with 9 coming in the first half. Oak Hill (8-0) had 16 turnovers with 9 in the first half.

The Lady Oaks were 20 of 46 from the field and 18 of 22 at the line. They were just 3 of 15 from behind the arc.

Taylor Hale led Oak Hill with 15 points — mostly off backdoor cuts in the sharp-moving offense — and grabbed 10 rebounds, four on the offensive end.

Lakin Caudill had 14 points and 12 rebounds while Breanna Butler added 13 points.

Davis led Ironton with a career-high 16 points and she had three steals. Ariel Schweickart added 9 points and 3 steals while Karlee McMackin grabbed 7 rebounds and Lexie Washington 5.

Oak Hill jumped ahead 5-0 but Ironton tied the game on a trey by Schweickart and a put-back by Washington.

The Lady Oaks then went on a 15-3 run to end the quarter and it was 20-8. Leanna Adkins scored 6 of Oak Hill’s points in the quarter.

A layup by McMacking got Ironton within 27-15 with 2:35 left in the half only to have the Lady Oaks hit four foul shots. Davis made two free throws and it was 31-17 at the break.

Washington made two foul shots and it was 31-19 to start the second half. Oak Hill then went on a 14-2 scoring spurt and it was 45-21 at the 3:44 mark.

Davis converted a 3-point play with 3:28 on the clock to end the run but the Lady Oaks led 50-26 at the end of the quarter. Hale scored 9 of her points in the quarter.

Ironton never got closer than 54-32 when Davis had another 3-point play with four minutes to play.

Ironton plays Lucasville Valley at 12:45 p.m. Friday in the Ironton Classic.

Oak Hill 20 11 19 11 = 61

Ironton 8 9 9 9 = 35

OAK HILL (8-0): Taylor Hale 5 1 2-2 15, Breanna Butler 4 0 5-6 13, Paige Roseberry 2 0 4-5 8, Leanna Adkins 3 0 2-2 8, Lakin Caudill 3 2 2-2 14, Merrill Melvin 0 0 0-0 0, Alex Kuhn 0 0 0-0 0, Abby Haislop 0 0 2-4 2, Kelsey Hoskins 0 0 0-0 0, Miranda Melvin 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-46 18-22 61. 3-point goals: 3-15. Rebounds: 11-28=39 (Caudill 12, Hale 10). Team rebounds: 3. Assists: 9 (Caudill 3). Steals: 8 (Adkins 2, Butler 2, Roseberry 2). Turnovers: 16. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Adkins (4th 4:00).

IRONTON (1-5): Emily Davis 5 0 6-6 16, Ariel Schweickart 2 1 2-5 9, Karlee McMackin 1 0 2-4 4, Alicia Murphy 1 0 0-0 2, Lexie Washington 1 0 2-2 4, Taitllin Dutey 0 0 0-0 0, Saige Fields 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Hannon 0 0 0-1 0. Totals: 11-46 12-18 35. 3-point goals: 1-4. Rebounds: 10-17=27 (McMackin 7, Washington 5, Davis 4). Team rebounds: 1. Assists: 2. Steals: 7 (Schweickart 3, Davis 3). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: McMackin (4th 2:53).