Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

It was just what the doctor ordered.

With four players out sick and others not feeling well, the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ bench provided the necessary medicine to help beat the Chillicothe Lady Cavaliers 51-32 on Thursday.

“Our subs played well, especially in the first half,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham. “Alana Martin made some nice plays and Jordan Hannan played real well.

“Lexie Barrier played a great game and Karlee McMackin did a great job on the boards.”

Ariel Schweickart scored 13 points to lead a balanced Ironton offense. Alana Martin had 8 points off the bench, Lexie Barrier had 8 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals, and Karlee McMackin pulled down 10 rebounds.

But it was the defense that took the spotlight. The Lady Tigers forced 27 turnovers including 17 steals. Ironton (14-5) also limited Chillicothe to a mere 3 of 24 shooting from the field in the first half and just 10 of 41 for the game for 24 percent.

“We caused a lot of turnovers, but we had a lot of turnovers that were unforced. We were pretty careless with the ball,” said Graham.

The Lady Cavs took a 2-0 lead to start the game on a layup by Kayla Keener, but it was their only lead as Ironton went on an 8-0 run and led 12-3 at the end of the quarter.

Brianna Dawes — who led Chillicothe with 19 points — made a foul shot to cut the deficit to 20-9, but Schweickart scored the final 5 points of the quarter including a layup with 12 seconds on the clock and Ironton led 25-9 at the half.

Ironton opened up a 39-18 lead in the third quarter after a put-back by Barrier and a layup by Hannan with 2:23 on the clock.

A layup by Schweickart just before the buzzer put the lead at 45-22.

Alicia Murphy hit a free throw and Martin made two foul shots to give Ironton its biggest lead at 48-22 with 6:49 to play.

The backups finished the rest of the game.

“We had a lot of girls get playing time, so that was a real plus especially since we didn’t have a reserve game,” said Graham. “We’ve got four girls out who are sick and some others who aren’t feeling well. I just hope we have enough to play on Saturday.”

Ironton hosts Coal Grove at 1 p.m. Saturday in a varsity-only game.

Chillicothe 3 6 13 10 = 32

Ironton 12 13 20 6 = 51

CHILLICOTHE (5-13): Brianna Dawes 5 1 6-8 19, Nashayia Lett 0 0 0-0 0, Jenna Holton 0 0 0-0 0, Kayla Keener 2 0 0-0 4, Jasmine Jordan 0 0 3-8 3, Rachel Conaway 0 0 0-0 0, Hayley Large 1 0 2-2 4, Hannah Ray 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 10-41 11-18 32. 3-point goals: 1-8. Rebounds: 10 offense, 20 defense = 30 (Jordan 11). Team rebounds: 8. Assists: 2. Steals: 10 (Dawes 3). Turnovers: 27. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (14-5): Lexie Washington 2 0 3-47, Lexie Barrier 3 0 2-4 8, Ariel Schweickart 4 1 2-4 13, Karlee McMackin 2 0 0-0 4, Alicia Murphy 2 0 1-2 5, Alana Martin 3 0 2-2 8, Jordan Hannan 2 0 2-2 6, Saige Fields 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan Leach 0 0 0-0 0, Desiree Scott 0 0 0-0 0, Cheyenne Scott 0 0 0-2 0. Totals: 19-54 12-20 51. 3-point goals: 1-12. Rebounds: 22 offense, 23 defense = 45 (McMackin 10, Barrier 8, Hannan 5). Team rebounds: 5. Assists: 8 (Murphy 4, Barrier 2). Steals: 17 (Barrier 4, McMackin 3, Murphy 3). Turnovers: 27. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.