Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

It was a battle for second place, and it was quite a battle.
The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers held on to edge the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 42-40 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.
Ironton is 16-5 on the season and clinches second place in the OVC at 11-3.
Coal Grove (is now 15-5 and 9-4 in the league.
“We had the opportunity to make some shots at the end of the game and we couldn’t,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Rick Roach.
Ironton had three players in double figures as Lexie Arden scored 13 points — all in the second half — with Lexi Wise getting 12 points and Riley Schreck scoring 11 including three 3-pointers.
Emily Compliment scored 12 points and Kasey Murphy had 11 points to pace Coal Grove.
Ironton held a scant 11-10 first quarter lead thanks to Schreck who drained all three of her trifectas. Wise added the other basket.
Compliment had a 3-pointer as four different players scored for Coal Grove.
The scoring slowed in the second quarter as Coal Grove got two baskets from Murphy and a 3-pointer by Addi Dillow to take a 17-15 halftime lead.
The Lady Fighting Tigers rallied to regain the lead in the third quarter at 27-26 as Arden scored six points and Haylee Stevens came off the bench to score five crucial points including a 3-pointer.
Compliment was 3-of-4 at the line and scored five points while Jaidyn Griffith came off the bench to get four key points for the Lady Hornets.
Arden and Wise scored seven points each in the fourth quarter. Ironton was 5-of-9 at the foul ine with Arden and Lydia Hannan each 1-of-2 and Wise 3-of-5.
Murphy scored five points, Compliment had four points and Dillow knocked down another triple and Bailey McKnight added a basket.
Coal Grove made only one of five free throw attempts.
On Thursday, Coal Grove visits South Point and Ironton hosts Wheelersburg on senior night.
Coal Grove    10    7    9    14    =    40
Ironton       11    4    12    15    =    42
COAL GROVE (15-5, 9-4): Addi Dillow 0 2 0-0 6, Bailey McKnight 2 0 0-2 4, Emily Compliment 3 1 3-4 12, Kasey Murphy 5 0 1-2 11, Destiny Dolen 1 0 1-2 3, Jaidyn Griffith 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 16-55 5-10 40. 3-pt goals: 3. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.
IRONTON (16-5, 11-3): Riley Schreck 1 3 0-0 8, Lexi Wise 4 0 4-8 12, Lydia Hannan 0 0 1-4 1, Ellie Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Haylee Stevens 1 1 0-0 5, Katie Boyer 0 0 0-0 0, Lexie Arden 6 0 1-2 13. Totals: 16-54 6-14 42. 3-pt goals: 4. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.