Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Sometimes you need that clutch shot under pressure. Emilee Whitt did just that.
Whitt hit a clutch foul shot with eight seconds left to put South Point ahead 44-40.
Ironton was able to get off a shot with Riley Schreck draining a 3-pointer at the buzzer but it wasn’t enough as the Lady Pointers came away with a thrilling 44-43 Ohio Valley Conference win on Thursday.
The Lady Pointers converted 18-of-23 free throws while Ironton only made 5-of-14 attempts.
“It was a great team effort and we made our free throws down the stretch,” said Lady Pointers’ coach Dave Adams.
The win makes South Point 14-4 overall and 9-3 in the OVC. Ironton slips to 9-10 and 9-4.
Whitt led the Lady Pointers with 12 points including 8-of-11 from the foul line. Emilee Carey and Diamond Crawley had 10 points each.
Kate Mundy and Whitt had six rebounds each and Ashley Perkey five.
Schreck led all scorers with 16 points. Samantha LaFon added 14.
South Point took an early 11-8 first quarter lead as Perkey scored five of her seven points Carey hit a 3-pointer.
Schreck hit a trey and scored five points in the quarter.
LaFon had eight points and both Jade Rogers and Schreck hit 3-pointers as the Lady Fighting Tigers rallied in the second quarter and took a 22-20 lead at the break.
In the third quarter, the Lady Pointers took advantage of Ironton’s cold shooting to go ahead 29-23. The Lady Tigers could only manage baskets by Lydia Hannan and Schreck.
The Lady Pointers hit 5-of-7 free throws in the quarter.
Whitt had eight points —she was 6-of-8 at the line — while Crawley scored four and Carey hit a trifecta.
Ironton plays Franklin at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Tackett’s Body Shop Shootout and visits Coal Grove on Monday. South Point hosts Rock Hill on Monday.
South Point 11 9 9 15 = 44
Ironton 8 14 4 17 = 43
SOUTH POINT (14-4, 9-3): Emilee Whitt 2 0 8-11 12, Jaden Howard 0 0 0-0 0, Sarah Roach 0 0 0-0 0, Maddy Khounlavong 1 0 1-2 3, Emilee Carey 1 2 2-2 10, Diamond Crawley 3 0 4-5 10, Kate Mundy 0 0 0-0 0, Ashley Perkey 3 0 1-1 7. Totals: 12-31 18-23 44. 3-pt goals: 2-12. Rebounds: 9-O, 12-D = 21 (Mundy 6, Whitt 6, Perkey 5). Assists: 5 (Khounlavong 2, Whitt 2). Steals: 4 (Carey 2, Khounlavong 2). Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.
IRONTON (9-10, 9-4): Riley Schreck 2 4 0-2 16, Samantha LaFon 6 0 2-4 14, Lydia Hannan 2 0 1-4 5, Elli Williams 0 0 2-2 2, Kameren Arden 0 0 0-0 0, Haylee Stevens 0 0 0-0 0, Jade Rogers 0 2 0-2 6, Sophie Caines 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-45 5-14 43. 3-pt goals: 6-17. Rebounds: 11-O, 12-D = 23. Assists: 2. Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.