Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

GALLIPOLIS — The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ are doing it with defense.
Ironton held a team to under 25 points for the second straight game as they opened Ohio Valley Conference play on Monday with a 63-23 rout of the Gallipolis Blue Angels.
“We played very unselfish basketball with aggressive defense,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham. “We improve with aspects of the game with looked following game one. Still, areas for improvement. We’ll look at film and work in practice to improve.”
Three different players reached double figures as Evan Williams and Samantha LaFon scored 11 points each while Kirsten Williams added 10 points. Kameren Arden hit three trifectas for 9 points.
Preslee Reed had 9 points to lead Gallipolis (0-2, 0-1).
Ironton (2-0, 1-0) jumped out to a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game and extended the lead to 14-0 when Evan Williams scored with 4:14 left in the first quarter.
Williams had 7 points in the quarter including a 3-pointer while Ellie Williams and Kirsten Williams each had 5 pints including a triple.
Preslee Reed’s basket ended the run but Ironton went up 24-4 at the end of the quarter.
LaFon had 6 points and Kirsten Williams 5 more as the lead grew to 41-10 at the half.
Gallipolis was held without a field goal in the third quarter and the Blue Angels didn’t score until Alex Barnes made a foul shot with 3:09 on the clock.
The Lady Tigers led 51-11 after three quarters. Ironton went on a 9-2 run to end the game and had its biggest lead at 60-17 with 2:06 to play.
Ironton visits Rock Hill on Thursday.
Ironton 24 17 10 12 = 63
Gallipolis 4 6 1 12 = 23
IRONTON (2-0, 1-0): Samantha LaFon 5 0 1-1 11, Kylie Deer 0 0 0-0 0, Lydia Hannan 0 0 3-4 3, Teagan Carpenter 1 0 0-0 2, Elli Williams 2 1 0-0 7, Kameren Arden 0 3 0-0 9, Kirsten Williams 2 2 0-0 10, Isabel Morgan 0 2 0-0 6, Evan Williams 4 1 0-0 11, Abbey Patterson 0 0 0-0 0, Sara Bowen 0 0 0-0 0, Shayleigh Carmon 0 0 0-0 0, Lexie Arden 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 16 9 4-5 63. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.
GALLIPOLIS (0-2, 0-1): Chanee Cremeans 0 0 0-0 0, Asia Griffin 0 0 0-0 0, Alex Barnes 2 0 3-4 7, Maddy Petro 1 0 0-0 2, Regan Wilcoxon 0 0 0-2 0, Preslee Reed 4 0 1-2 9, Koren Truance 1 0 0-1 2, Kaylie Clark 1 0 1-2 3. Totals: 9 0 5-11 23. Fouls: 4. Fouled out: None.