Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers do like to play defense.
Just ask the Portsmouth Lady Trojans.
Ironton held Portsmouth to seven points in the first half en route to a 56-25 Ohio Valley Conference win on Thursday.
On the offensive end, Ironton had three players in double figures led by Lexi Wise with 15. Haylee Stevens scored a career-high 12 points and Lexie Arden added 11 points.
Jaiden Rickett scored 10 for Portsmouth.
Ironton (10-3, 6-2) used a balanced offense and strong defense to take a 16-4 first quarter lead.
Elli Williams scored all five of her points, Wise had four and Riley Schreck drained a 3-pointer in the quarter.
Arden scored six points in the second quarter while Stevens and Wise had four each and the lead ballooned to 32-7 at the half.
Wise had six points and Arden three in the third quarter as Ironton extended its lead to 47-15.
With Wise, Arden, Schreck, Williams and Lydia Hannan all sitting out the fourth quarter, Portsmouth was able to outscore Ironton 10-9. Stevens scored six of Ironton’s points while the Lady Trojans made 6-of-10 from the foul line.
Ironton returns to action next Thursday at Fairland. Portsmouth hosts Northwest on Wednesday and visits Coal Grove Thursday.
Portsmouth    4    3    8    10    =    25
Ironton        16    16    15    9    =    56
PORTSMOUTH (NA): Kylisha Kearns 1 0 5-12 7, Destiny McKenzie 1 00-0 2, Sharia Kearns 1 0 0-0 2, Shai Howarad 0 0 0-0 0, Autumn Wright 0 0 0-0 0, Alayla Bolden 0 0 0-0 0, Jaiden Rickett 4 0 2-4 10, Layla Kegg 0 0 1-2, 1Aireyana Thurman 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 8 0 9-20 25. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
IRONTON (10-3, 6-2): Riley Schreck 2 1 0-0 7, Lexi Wise 5 0 5-9 15, Lydia Hannan 0 0 1-2 1, Lilly Zornes 0 0 0-2 0, Elli Williams 2 0 1-2 5, Kameren Arden 1 0 1-1 3, Reece Stager 0 0 0-0 0, Haylee Stevens 6 0 0-0 12, Lauren Wikoff 0 0 0-0 0, Brooke Barnes 0 0 0-0 0, Katie Boyer 1 00 -0 2, Sophie Caines 0 0 0-0 0, Lexie Arden 5 0 1-2 11. Totals: 22 1 9-18 56. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.