Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

JACKSON — What a difference a half can make.

After struggling with their shooting in the first half, the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers rolled past the Meigs Lady Marauders 60-41 on Wednesday in the Division III sectional tournament.

Ironton coach Doug Graham admitted that there were no real adjustments at halftime, merely a command to play the way the Lady Tigers were capable.

“We didn’t play with intensity in the first half. We played hard in the second half. In the second half we played well offensively and defensively. In the first half our defense was pretty good,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham.

The Lady Tigers (18-5) will play Lucasville Valley at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the sectional finals.

Ironton missed 20 shots virtually uncontested at point-blank range. Fortunately, the Lady Tigers used a swarming defense to force 29 turnovers.

Ironton (18-5) shot a just 23 of 59 from the field for 39 percent and an uncharacteristic 12 of 21 from the foul line.

Ariel Schweickart and Lexie Barrier scored 18 points each to lead Ironton. Schweickart scored 12 of her points in the third quarter as she consistently drove through the Meigs’ defense for layups.

“It was wide open the whole game. In the second half I just took advantage of it,” said Schweickart.

Ironton (18-5) also got 10 points from Lexie Washington. Alicia Murphy grabbed 7 rebounds

Meigs (4-19) didn’t get off many shots but managed to hang close thanks in part to Kelsey Hudson who scored 15 points including 4 of 5 from behind the arc.

Barrier scored 8 points in the first quarter and Schweickart got 3 points in the final 1:22 to give Ironton a 15-12 lead.

Meigs was 4 of 7 from the field in the second quarter while Ironton was 3 of 11. A 3-pointer by Mercadies George gave Meigs a 22-21 lead with 58 seconds on the clock, but a layup by Taylor Hannan with 22 seconds left in the half put Ironton ahead 23-22 at the break.

Schweickart scored 8 unanswered points to begin the second half —as Ironton took a 31-22 lead.

A triple by Hudson got Meigs within 37-28 but Schweickart made another layup, Taylor Hannan sank two foul shots, Jordan Hannan made a layup and Schweickart converted another layup with 15 seconds left and Ironton was up 45-29.

With more missed layups by Ironton to start the fourth quarter, Meigs went on a 9-2 run and trailed 47-38.

But a 3-point play by Lexie Washington opened up a 50-38 lead with 3:13 left. Ironton finished the game with a 10-3 run.

Meigs 12 10 7 12 = 41

Ironton 15 8 22 15 = 60

MEIGS (4-19): Delilah Fish 2 0 0-0 4 Brittany Krauter 3 0 1-2 7, Tess Phelps 0 0 2-2 2, Mercadies George 3 1 0-0 9, Kelsey Hudson 1 4 1-2 15, Chelsea Knopp 0 0 0-0 0, Hannah Cremeans 0 0 0-0 0, Kirsten McGuire 1 0 2-4 4, Sadie Fox 0 0 0-0 0, Abigail Houser 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-36 6-10 41. 3-point goals: 5-10. Rebounds: 6 offense, 24 defense = 30 (Krautter 6, Fish 5, Phelps 4). Team rebounds: 10. Assists: 3 (Hudson 2). Steals: 2. Turnovers: 29. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (18-5): Lexie Washington 4 0 2-5 10, Lexie Barried 4 2 4-4 18, Ariel Schweickart 8 0 2-4 18, Karlee McMackin 1 0 0-0 2, Alicia Murphy 1 0 0-4 2, Taylor Hannan 1 0 2-2 4, Jordan Hannan 2 0 0-0 4, Cheyanne Scott 0 0 2-2 2. Totals: 23-59 12-21 60. 3-point goals: 2-5. Rebounds: 17 offense, 17 defense = 34 (Murphy 7, Washington 5, Barrier 5). Team rebounds: 5. Assists: 10 (Barrier 4, Schweickart 2). Steals: 19 (Barrier 6, Schweickart 3, McMackin 3, Murphy 3). Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None