Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers made things harder for themselves.

Playing a tough Division II Miami Trace Lady Panthers team and a second game in less than 17 hours, Ironton was poised for an upset.

But some missed attempts of several easy shots was too much to overcome as the Lady Tigers fell 43-36 in the Tackett’s Body Shop Shootout Saturday.

“We had some easy opportunities and we just missed the shots,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham.

“It wasn’t just one or two players. It seemed everyone missed an easy shot. Sometimes you get excited or rush yourself and it happens. We missed some shots and consequently we missed a chance to beat a very good team.”

Ironton (8-11) was just 14-of-49 from the field and 1-of-16 from behind the 3-point arc.

Lexie Barrier had 20 points, six rebounds and four steals for Ironton. Cheyenne Scott added six points and five rebounds and Karlie Rase had four rebounds.

“I can’t fault their effort. They battled and played hard and aggressive. It was a good game to get us ready for the tournament,” said Graham.

Miami Trace (15-4) was led by Josie Cobb with 14 points and six rebounds. Abby Schwenk had 12 points and six rebounds, Brooklynnne Baldwin hit three 3-pointers and Arianna Mabra had nine rebounds.

Miami Trace took a 9-2 lead to start the game before Ironton got within 9-6 on a layup by Barrier. Cobb sank four foul shots and the Lady Panthers led 15-8 at the end of the first quarter.

A foul shot by Alyssa Lewis and a baseline jumper by Barrier pulled Ironton within 22-20 at the half.

Schwenk had a putback and Baldwin hit a triple to star the second half and it was 27-20. A foul shot by Cobb and a tip-in at the buzzer by Schwenk stretched the margin to 38-24.

Lewis hit a 3-pointer and Barrier made a runner in the lane as Ironton got within 38-29 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Four points by Barrier, two free throws by Jordan Hannan anda foul shot by Barrier cut the deficit to 40-36 with 46 seconds left.

But two free throws by Mabra with 38 seconds left and one by Ashley Henry 12 seconds later put the game out of reach.

Ironton hosts Wheelersburg on Monday.

Miami Trace 15 7 16 5 = 43

Ironton 8 12 4 12 = 36

MIAMI TRACE (15-4): Ashley Henry 0 1 1-2 4, Brooklynne Baldwin 0 3 0-0 9, Josie Cobb 4 0 6-7 14, Arianna Mabra 0 0 2-3 2, Abby Schwenk 6 0 0-1 12, Kelsey Wilson 0 0 0-0 0, Hanna Reisinger 1 0 0-0 2, Kyla Johnston 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-38 9-13 43. 3-point goals: 4-14. Rebounds: 11-OR, 24-DR = 35 (Mabra 9, Schwenk 6, Cobb 6). Team/deadball rebounds: 4. Assists: 5 (Baldwin 2). Steals: 4 (Mabra 2). Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (8-11): Jordan Hannan 0 0 2-2 2, Taylor Hannan 0 0 0-0 0, Lexie Barrier 8 0 4-5 20, Macy Wise 2 0 0-2 4, Cheyenne Scott 3 0 0-0 6, Karlie Rase 0 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Lewis 0 1 1-2 4. Totals: 14-49 7-11 36. 3-point goals: 1-16. Rebounds: 113-OR, 13-DR = 26 (Barrier 6, Scott 5, Rase 4). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Assists: 2 (Scott, T. Hannan). Steals: 7 (Barrier 4, J. Hannan 2). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.