Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

It was everything it was billed to be.

The marquee matchup between the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers and Ashland Kittens didn’t disappoint the large crowd at the Conley Sports Center on Thursday.

There were a total of seven lead changes and six ties before the Kittens hit some clutch free throws in overtime to edge the Lady Tigers 55-53.

“We had chances. Against a quality team like that you have to give yourself chances and we did. We just didn’t capitalize on all of them,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham.

Ironton led 42-39 with 1:21 left in regulation on two foul shots by Lexie Barrier.

Alexis Robinson then hit a 3-pointer to tie the game.

A layup by Lexi Wise put Ironton up 46-43 with 31 seconds to go but Robinson hit another triple with 24 seconds to that tied the game at 46.

Ashland’s Mykassa Robinson had a steal and was fouled with 3.7 seconds to go but missed both free throws sending the game to overtime.

Barrier hit a 12-footer to start the overtime and her two foul shots with 2:48 on the clock gave Ironton its last lead at 50-49.

Shelby Gransberry had a putback 10 seconds later to give Ashland the lead for good. Two foul shots by Alexis Robinson extended the lead to 53-50 with 1:10 on the clock.

Barrier’s foul shot with 17 seconds left got Ironton within 54-53, but Haley Sue Foutch was fouled with 14 seconds to go and hit the second of two shots to make it 55-53.

“I’m very proud of their effort and the way we played and the way we attacked,” said Graham.

“The girls made adjustments on the fly during timeouts and at the end of the quarters. It was just two good teams playing good basketball. It’s a shame someone had to lose.”

Ashland took advantage of five Ironton turnovers in the first quarter to take a 15-7 lead. The lead grew to 18-7 on a layup by Foutch with 3:24 left in the half.

But a trey and two foul shots by Sydney Lewis got Ironton within 20-16 and a layup by Alyssa Lewis off a pass from Taylor Hannan with one second left cut the spread to 22-18 at the break.

Barrier scored eight points in the third quarter and Cheyenne Scott’s baseline shot with 53 seconds left in the quarter put Ironton ahead 32-31.

Barrier had a game-high 26 points to go with 15 rebounds to lead Ironton (4-1). Wise had 10 points while Scott and Lewis grabbed five rebounds each.

Alexis Robinson finished with 16 points, Foutch 15 and Mykassa Robinson 11 to pace Ashland (4-1).

Ironton plays Division III defending state champion Africentric at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday in The Ironton Classic.

Ashland 15 7 9 15 9 = 55

Ironton 7 11 14 14 7 = 53

ASHLAND (4-1): Haley Sue Foutch 3 1 6-8 15, Kaitlin Hammond 1 0 0-0 2, Alexis Robinson 2 3 3-4 16, Shelby Gransberry 2 1 2-4 9, Mykassa Robinson 4 0 3-9 11, Chloe Kouns 0 0 0-0 0, Rachel Barber 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 18-50 14-25 55. 3-point goals: 6-17. Rebounds: 7-O, 19-D = 26 (A. Robinson 5, Hammond 5, M. Robinson 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Assists: 5 (M. Robinson 3, A. Robinson 2). Steals: 9 (M. Robinson 3, A. Robinson 2). Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Gransberry (0:17 OT), A. Robinson (0:02 OT).

IRONTON (4-1): Lexi Wise 4 0 2-4 10, Taylor Hannan 0 0 0-0 0, Lexie Barrier 8 0 10-13 26, Sydney Lewis 1 1 2-2 7, Cheyenne Scott 2 0 0-0 4, Jordan Hannan 1 0 0-2 2, Alyssa Lewis 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 19-42 14-21 53. 3-point goals: 1-9. Rebounds: 8-O, 28-D = 36 (Barrier 15, Scott 5, Lewis 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 2. Assists: 6 (T. Hannan 2, Wise 2). Steals: 3. Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Lewis (1:10 OT).