Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

When looking at the 62-28 score, Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ head coach Doug Graham has to be happy with the offensive output.

But when he looks at the mere 28 points allowed the Cabell Midland Lady Knights, he has to be happy with the defense, too.

Right on both counts.

Graham was pleased with his team’s overall performance as they routed Cabell Midland on Saturday as they improved to 6-2 on the season.

“When you give up an average of seven points a quarter, you’re playing pretty good defense,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham.

“Lexie (Barrier) and Lexi (Wise) were a terror on the defensive end. They blocked shots, rebounded and covered up a lot of things for us. Overall, our defense did well. Our perimeter defense played really well, too.”

Sydney Webb had 17 points and a couple of assists to lead the balanced offense.

Barrier had 12 points, 10 rebounds, 8 steals and 5 assists while Wise had 10 points and 10 rebounds along with 3 steals and 3 assists.

Taylor Hannan finished with 9 points — all in the first half before leaving with an injury. Starting point guard Cheyenne Scott was also hurt early in the first quarter and did not return.

“I was happy with the way we shared the ball. We moved the ball and found the easy shot and that helps your offense. I think that Sydney is starting to hit her stride,” said Graham.

Ironton led 11-6 late in the first quarter when Hannan scored the final 7 points of the quarter including a trifecta just before the buzzer and the lead was 18-6.

Barrier and Wise hit back-to-back layups and Zakie Lee got a putback as Ironton surged ahead 24-8 with 6:27 left in the half.

Ironton missed several close-range shots and the Lady Knights took advantage as Faith Craddock scored 5 points and a layup by McKenna Adkins cut the deficit to 24-16.

But a steal and layup by Wise with one second left put Ironton ahead 26-16 at the break.

Cabell Midland got a layup by Adkins to begin the second half, but Ironton went on a 13-0 run sparked by Webb’s 7 points including a 3-pointer and a steal and layup by Barrier that pushed the lead to 39-18.

The Lady Knights ended their drought as Craddock made a foul shot with one second left and it was 39-19.

Webb hit a 3-pointer to begin the fourth quarter, Barrier scored 6 points and D’Laynie Keith came off the bench and got a layup to finish off a 16-0 run as Ironton opened up a 62-26 lead.

Craddock had 10 points and Adkins 9 rebounds for Cabell Midland (2-2).

Ironton hosts South Point in a varsity-only game a 7 p.m. on Monday.

Midland 6 10 3 9 = 28

Ironton 18 8 13 23 = 62

CABELL MIDLAND (2-2): Taylor Adkins 1 1 0-0 5, Haley Haggerty 0 0 5-6 5, Summer Stephenson 1 0 0-0 2, Allie Bennett 0 0 0-0 0, McKenna Adkins 3 0 0-0 6, Faith Craddock 4 0 2-3 10, Rachel Morgan 0 0 0-0 0, Morgan Bennett 0 0 0-0 0, MacKenzie Dillon 0 0 0-0 0, Sierra Womack 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10-42 7-9 28. 3-point goals: 1-10. Rebounds: 10-O, 19-D = 29 (M. Adkins 10). Team/deadball rebounds: 5. Assists: 3. Steals: 5 (M. Bennett 2). Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 6. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (6-2): Lexi Wise 5 0 0-1 10, Taylor Hannan 3 1 0-0 9, Lexie Barrier 6 0 0-2 12, Sydney Webb 4 3 0-0 17, Cheyenne Scott 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan Hannan 1 0 2-2 4, D’Laynie Keith 2 0 0-0 4, Zakie Lee 3 0 0-2 6, Kenzie Ashley 0 0 0-0 0, Kaylin Easterling 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 28-54 2-7 62. 3-point goals: 4-13. Rebounds: 9-O, 31-D = 40 (Barrier 10, Wise 10, T. Hannan 5, Keith 4). Team/deadball rebounds: 4. Assists: 11 (Barrier 5, Wise 3, Webb 2). Steals: 1 (Barrier 8, Wise 3). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.