Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

JACKSON — The Ironton Lady Tigers are used to creating shots on offense and turnovers on defense.
On Thursday in the Division III sectional tournament, they had to create some atmosphere.
After having beaten the Rock Hill Redwomen handily twice in the regular season, the Lady Tigers had to provide their own motivation and they did with a 50-18 win.
“We talked about that before the game. It seemed dead (in the gym). But credit my girls. They came out and set the tone. It all starts with defense. Lexi Wise was flying to the glass. Lexie Arden was scoring. Credit to those girls for creating their own energy.
“They got good shots. They hit the girl for an easier shot. Riley Schreck was sprinting out and Lexie Arden was looking like Tom Brady and hitting her with a pass.”
Wise had 17 points, eight rebounds and six steals to lead Ironton (18-5).
Lexie Arden scored 13 points — all in the first half — while grabbing seven rebounds, blocking three shots and getting three assists. Riley Schreck was the third Ironton player in double figures with 11 points.
Maddie Scott scored six points and sister Maykala Scott had four. Lucy Simpson getting five rebounds and Kelsey Olderham pulled down four boards for Rock Hill (3-17).
Ironton began the game with 10 unanswered points before Maddie Scott hit a short jumper for the Redwomen.
Wise then had a layup and putback, Arden hit a 10-footer, Wise turned a steal into a layup and Arden finished off the quarter with a trifecta and the lead was 21-2.
Wise followed up a missed shot and Schreck drained a trey to start the second quarter for a 26-2 lead.
Haylee Stevens knocked down a triple and Arden made a layup before Gracie Stevens scored for the Redwomen.
Arden had a putback of her own shot just before the end of the half and Ironton led 33-6 at the break.
A 3-pointer by Wise, back-to-back layups off passes from Arden and a steal and layup by Elli Williams opened up a 42-6 lead at the start of the third quarter.
Maykayla Scott hit a layup and Lucy Simpson sank a foul shot for Rock Hill and it was 44-9 at the end of the quarter.
A layup by Katie Boyer had Ironton ahead 50-11 in the fourth quarter, but Maddie Scott and Maykayla Scott each had a layup, Autumn Porter connected on two foul shots and Simpson made another free throw as Rock Hill showed no quit with a 7-0 run to end the game.
Ironton shot 22-of-47 from the field for 47 percent and held a 29-21 rebound advantage including 14 offensive boards.
The Redwomen were 7-of-30 from the floor 23 percent.
Ironton will now play Crooksville in the sectional finals at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday.
Graham said it was important for the team to play well in order to be prepared for Saturday.
“You don’t want to develop bad habits. You want to play hard,” said Graham. “These girls are playing hard. In practice, they’re busting their tails. They’re playing hard for Ironton.”
Rock Hill    2    4    3    9    =    18
Ironton       21    12    11    6    =    50
ROCK HILL (3-17): Kelsey Olderham 1 0 0-0 2, Maykayla Scott 2 0 0-0 4, Lucy Simpson 0 0 2-4 2, Kyleigh Noel 0 0 0-0 0, Maddie Scott 3 0 0-0 6, Savannah McGraw 0 0 0-0 0, Autumn Porter 0 0 2-2 2, Kylee Howard 0 0 0-0 0, Gracie Stevens 1 0 0-0 2, Keelie Adams 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 7-30 4-6 18. 3-pt goals: 0-4. Rebounds: 9-O, 12-D = 21 (Simpson 5, Olderham 4). Team rebounds: 5. Steals: 5 (5 with one). Turnovers: 20. Fouls: 5. Fouled out: None
IRONTON (18-5): Riley Schreck 4 1 0-0 11, Lexi Wise 6 1 2-2 17, Lydia Hannan 1 0 0-1 2, Elli Williams 1 0 0-0 2, Lexie Arden 5 1 0-0 13, Haylee Stevens 0 1 0-2 3, Katie Boyer 1 0 0-0 2, Sophia Caines 0 0 0-0 0, Lilly Zornes 0 0 0-0 0, Kameren Arden 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-47 2-5 50. 3-pt goals: 4-10. Rebounds: 14-O, 15-D = 29 (Wise 8, L. Arden 7). Team rebounds: 2. Assists: 7 (L. Arden 3, Williams 2). Steals: 8 (Wise 6). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 6. Fouled out: None.