By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

This defensive thing is going pretty good.

Ironton turned in another strong defensive effort as the Lady Tigers beat the Zane Trace Lady Pioneers 51-30 on Thursday.

“That’s the second game in a row our defense really got after it,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham. “We came out really fired up and intense. I don’t remember them getting many offensive rebounds.”

Ironton (4-12) out-rebounded Zane Trace 39-31 including 14-to-8 on the offensive end. The defense limited The Lady Pioneers to just 9 of 37 shooting from the field or 24.3 percent.

The Lady Tigers had three players in double figures led by Lexy Washington with 18 points and 8 rebounds. Karlee McMackin had 12 points and 8 rebounds while Emily Davis finished with 11 points, 5 steals and 4 rebounds.

Kelsey Dunkle scored 19 points for Zane Trace (8-7).

Ironton wasted little time taking control of the game. Davis had two steals in the quarter and scored 6 of Ironton’s first 11 points and it was 11-2.

A putback by McMackin put the lead at 18-4 before Dunkle’s baseline runner ended the quarter at 18-6.

Washington’s layup off a pass from McMackin had Ironton up 24-9 with 3:30 left in the half.

Taylor Hannon, Davis and McMackin each made two foul shots over the final minute of the half and it was 30-11.

The Lady Tigers took a 38-22 lead into the fourth quarter but a 15-footer by Dunkle with 6:02 left cut the deficit to 41-28.

Washington then scored 4 straight points to make it 45-28 and Ironton was never headed.

“We did a good job attacking their press. We were aggressive,” said Graham. “Any team coached by Joe Dunkle is going to be aggressive and get right up in you.”

Ironton hosts its Shootout on Saturday with five games beginning at 1:30. Ironton plays Cabell Midland at 8:30 p.m.

Zane Trace 6 5 11 8 = 30

Ironton 18 12 8 13 = 51

ZANE TRACE (8-7): Haley Carle 1 0 0-0 2, Devin Unger 1 0 1-3 3, Kelsey Dunkle 6 1 4-6 19, Joann Saultz 0 0 2-2 2, Montana Fry 0 0 1-2 1, Taylor Woodbridge 0 0 0-0 0, Jullian Pontius 0 0 3-5 3, Morgan Geno 0 0 0-0 0, Alyn Chaffin 0 0 0-0 0, Amber Everhart 0 0 0-1 0. Totals: 9-37 11-19 30. 3-point goals: 1-11. Rebounds: 8-23=31 (Unger 9). Team rebounds: 7. Assists: 0. Steals: 4. Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Pontius (4th 4:33), Fry (4th 3:36).

IRONTON (4-12): Emily Davis 4 0 3-5 11, Ariel Schweickart 1 0 1-1 3, Karlee McMackin 3 0 6-10 12, Alicia Murphy 1 0 1-2 3, Lexi Washington 7 0 4-8 18, Taylor Hannon 1 0 2-3 4, Jordan Leach 0 0 0-0 0, Macy Wise 0 0 0-0 0, Saige Fields 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-47 17-29 51. 3-point goals: 0-4. Rebounds: 14-25=39 (McMackin 8, Washington 8, Murphy 6). Team rebounds: 6. Assists: 7 (McMackin 3, Murphy 2). Steals: 9 (Davis 5, Murphy 2). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.