Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WHEELERSBURG — If the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers want to make a New Year’s resolution, they might want to resolve to make more shots.
The Lady Fighting Tigers struggled with their shooting for the second straight game in a 47-35 loss to the Wheelersburg Lady Pirates on Monday.
Ironton (6-3) was just 15-of-50 from the field for 30 percent and a meager 1-of-12 from behind the arc for 8 percent.
“I told the girls I can’t fault their effort. I thought they played hard. If you had told me before the game that some of the shots we’d get in this game, I’d take them. The ball just wouldn’t go through the hoop for us,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham.
Ironton forced Wheelersburg into 21 turnovers but had 16 themselves, many of their own doing.
The turnovers combined with the poor shooting was a bad combination.
“I felt like a lot of times we’d have the ball and we’d have an unforced turnover. It wasn’t anything they did necessarily,” said Graham.
“We’d dribble it off our foot or miss and easy shot, shots we’re capable of making. I don’t think our effort was poor. It’s game nine and there’s a couple of things we can work on tomorrow in practice and we’ll work on it,” said Graham.
Wheelersburg (9-1) was 17-of-43 for 39.5 percent including 7-of-20 from the 3-point line (35 percent).

The Lady Pirates used a fast start to build a 13-point lead and led by as many as 15. Wheelersburg was 7-of-14 from the field in the first quarter.
Ironton managed to get within 6 points in the second quarter and trailed 22-15 at the break.
Lexi Wise had 11 points and 8 rebounds for Ironton. Sydney Webb added 7 points and 6 rebounds while Lexie Arden grabbed 8 rebounds.
Wheelersburg was led by Abbie Kallner with 13 points and Kalle Coleman with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Makayla Akers added 8 points and 6 rebounds while Ellie Ruby pulled down 10 rebounds.
The game wsa tied a 22- after a steal and layup by Wise, but Coleman’s put-back and a  3-pointer by Brittany Swim gave Wheelersburg the lead for good at 7-2.Ironton was down 7-4 after a layup by Katie Boyer but the Lady Pirates went on an 8-0 run to end the quarter.
A foul shot and 12-footer by Alyssa Lewis and a baseline shot by Webb got Ironton with 17-9. A steal and layup by Arden cut the deficit to 19-13 with 2:59 left in the half.
But a 3-pointer by Ruby gave Wheelersburg a 22-15 halftime lead.
Wheelersburg was up 38-29 at the end of the third quarter when Akers and Kallner hit 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter to make it 44-29 with 7:03 left.
The Lady Tigers never got closer than the final score.
Ironton hosts Chesapeake on Thursday.
Ironton       4    11    14    6    =    35
Wheelersburg    17    5    16    9    =    47
IRONTON (6-3): Sydney Webb 2 1 0-0 7, Lexi Wise 5 0 1-7 11, Alyssa Lewis 2 0 3-4 7, Riley Schreck 1 0 0-0 2, Lexie Arden 2 0 0-0 4, taiya Hamlet 1 0 0-0 2, Katie Boyer 1 0 0-0 2, Haylee Stevens 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-50 4-11 35. 3-point goals: 1-12. Rebounds: 14-O, 16-D = 30 (Arden 8, Wise 8, Webb 6). Team/deadball rebounds: 2. Assists: 5 (Arden 2, Wise 2). Steals: 14 (Arden 6, Wise 3, Webb 2). Turnovers: 16. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.
WHEELERSBURG (9-1): Ellie Ruby 0 2 0-0 6, Abbie Kallner 4 1 2-2 13, Kalle Coleman 3 1 2-2 11, Brittany Swim 0 2 0-0 6, Makayla Akers 2 1 1-6 8, Mallory Bergan 1 0 1-2 3, Leann Spradlin 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-43 6=12 47. 3-point goals: 7-20. Rebounds: 14-O, 22-D = 36 (Ruby 10, Coleman 8, Akers 6). Assists: 3. Steals: 9 (Swim 4, Ruby 2). Turnovers: 21. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.