Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Everyone in the Conley Sports Center was anxious, waiting for that historic moment.

Everyone that is except the person who was about to set a new Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ all-time career scoring record during an 89-22 rout of the Gallipolis Blue Angels on Saturday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Family, friends, coaches, teammates and fans were all anticipating senior Lexie Barrier’s 20th point of the game that would give her the record. However, Barrier was the only one unaware of the impending milestone.

When she hit a 3-pointer from the right corner with 3:39 on the clock in the second quarter, the game was stopped to make the announcement. Barrier admitted she was puzzled at the stoppage.

“That definitely was my first thought. My family was acting weird, so I knew something was up with the game but I didn’t exactly. It was so awkward,” said Barrier.

“It meant a lot to me. Justin proving that all my hard work paid off it made me feel good about myself, but I wasn’t really all that worried about that cause I was just worried about our win.”

Following a standing ovation from the crowd, the game resumed much to Barrier’s delight.

“I don’t like all the attention on me,” said Barrier.

Ironton coach Doug Graham made a point not to tell Barrier about the inevitable accomplishment, but he was full of praise about the All-Ohio standout who has already signed with James Madison University.

“She didn’t know going in. I knew last year when she scored 1,000 she had a chance at it. I just kind of kept it under wraps,” said Graham.

“But it’s not just the winter months. This is spring, this is summer, this is fall, she does individual workouts, she does AAU practice, she does AAU games, she goes to Tennessee (camp), she goes to Georgia (camp). It was a team effort. When I say team effort I mean her mom, her family, her teammates, the teachers, the coaches all the way from biddy league up till now. Everybody can take a little happiness as far as her getting this milestone.”

Barrier finished with 24 points — 20 in the first half — along with four assists and five steals.

Ironton (10-0, 6-0) had five players in double figures. Alyssa Lewis scored 15 points, Lexie Wise had 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and six steals, Sydney Webb added 10 points, four rebounds, and three steals while Cheyenne Scott had 10 points.

Ironton raced to a 24-5 first quarter lad and extended the lead to 55-9 at the half as the defense forced 24 first half turnovers and 35 for the game.

The lead was 79-16 after the third quarter and the Lady Tigers biggest lead was 89-19 on a layup by Zakia Lee with 49 seconds to play.

Graham was pleased with his team’s effort and intensity.

“I told them they need to come out and be aggressive. We want to be an elite team. We want to have a chance to go to Columbus. You take no games off, no plays off, you hustle, you dive whether you’re up 30 or down 10, whatever it may be. They came out and executed,” said Graham.

The old mark of 1,386 was held by Lauren Triplett-Schweickart who was on hand and presented the game ball to Barrier.

“I called (Triplett-Schweickart) four or five days ago and said Lexie Barrier has a chance to break the record if she scores so many points, would like to come in and say a couple of things after the game and she jumped right at it. ‘Sure, I’ll be right there,’’’ said Graham.

Triplett-Schweickart praised Barrier for her work ethic and dedication to excel.

Ironton hosts South Point on Monday in a league game.

Gallipolis 5 4 7 6 = 22

Ironton 24 31 24 10 = 89

GALLIPOLIS (1-5, 1-4): Jalea Cadlwell 2 0 0-0 4, Hunter Copley 0 2 0-0 6, Carly Shriver 1 0 0-0 2, Adrienne Jenkins 2 1 1-2 8, Jordan Walker 1 0 0-0 2, KoKo Higa 0 0 0-0 0, Aubry Unroe 0 0 0-0 0, Abbey Cremeans 0 0 0-0 0, Jenelle Stevens 0 0 0-0 0, Kim Edelman 0 0 0-0 0, Macy Siders 0 0 0-0 0, Hanna Johnson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9-32 1-2 22. 3-point goals: 3-9. Rebounds: 10-O, 15-D = 25 (Jenkins 5, Shriver 3). Team rebounds: 7. Assists: 2. Steals: 1. Turnovers: 35. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (10-0, 6-0): Jordan Hannan 3 0 0-0 6, Lexie Wise 6 0 1-1 13, Lexie Barrier 7 3 1-2 24, Sydney Webb 1 2 2-2 10, Cheyenne Scott 2 1 3-4 10, Alyssa Lewis 6 10-0 15, D’Layne Keith 1 0 1-2 3, Zakia Lee 3 0 0-0 6, Kaylin Easterling 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 36-67 8-11 89. 3-point goals: 7-15. Rebounds: 17-O, 12-D = 29 (Hannan, Wise, Webb, Lewis 4). Assists: 12 (Barrier 4, Wise 3, Webb 2, Scott 2). Steals: 22 (Wise 6, Barrier 5, Keith 4, Webb 3). Turnovers: 5. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.