By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

There’s a new ride at Camden Park. It’s called the Lady Fighting Tigers Scoring Pattern Roller Coaster.

Ironton scored in double digits in the first and third quarters but scored just single digits in the second and fourth quarters in a 52-38 season opening loss to the Huntington (W.Va.) St. Joseph Lady Fighting Irish on Saturday.

Ava Gallion and Niko Kaufmann each made a pair of 3-pointers while Sophie Ransbottom added 4 points to give the Lady Irish an 18-15 first quarter lead.

Emerson White hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 8 points while Lola Hankins drained a triple and had 5 points to keep Ironton close.St. Joseph opened up a 31-19 halftime lead as Gallion scored 11 of the Lady Irish 13 points.

Hankins hit another trey and Peyton Deer sank a foul shot to account for Ironton’s points in the quarter.

The Lady Fighting Tigers came out strong in the second half and outscored St. Joseph 13-5 to cut the deficit to 36-32.

The Lady Irish regained control as they outscored Ironton 16-6 in the final quarter. Mariah Johnson hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points, Kaufmann had a 3-pointer, Ransbottom scored 4 pints and they converted 4-of-6 free throws.

Ironton’s offense struggled again in the fourth quarter as they only managed 3-pointers by Chloie Patterson and White.

Ironton had 2 players in double figures as White scored 16 points and Hankins was right behind with 13.

Gallion scored 20 points and Kaufmann 14 to pace Huntington St. Joseph.

Ironton will host Chesapeake on Monday.

Hunt. St. Joe    18 13 5 16 = 52

Ironton     15 4 13 6 = 38

HUNT. ST. JOSEPH (1-0): Ava Gallion 5 3 1-2 20, Campbell Lee 0 0 1-2 1, Sophie Ransbottom 4 0 0-1 8, Mariah Johnson 1 1 0-0 5, Niko Kaufmann 2 3 1-3 14, Sandra Frazier 0 0 4-6 4, R’Laya Austin 0 0 0-0 0, Kate oxley 0 0 0-0 0, Amira Stubblefield 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 7 7-14 52. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (0-1): Peyton Deer 0 0 1-2 1, Lola Hankins 1 3 2-6 13, Addison Neal 0 0 0-0 0, Lexi McCall 1 0 0-0 2, Chasity Cecil 0 1 0-0 3, Addison Murray 0 0 0-0 0, Mia Weber 0 0 0-0 0, Chloie Patterson 0 1 0-0 3, Emerson White 2 3 3-6 16. Totals: 4 8 6-14 38. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: McCall.