Maybe Ironton coach Doug Graham should call on author Jack London and ask him, “To Build a Fire.”

Graham was looking for a way to light a fire in his Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers after a 52-36 Southeastern Ohio Athletic League loss Saturday to the Chillicothe Lady Cavaliers.

“We didn’t play with any emotion or intensity,” said Graham.

“I don’t understand it. We had two great practices, but then we come out here and stand around and watch. It seemed like Chillicothe got every loose ball and we didn’t even move.”

Ironton (3-3, 1-2 SEOAL) failed to shoot well for the second straight game. After shooting just 23 percent on Monday, the Lady Tigers were just 14-of-48 for 29 percent.

“We’re getting good looks, we’re just not shooting the ball with confidence or relaxed,” said Graham.

Ironton got most of its offense from senior guard Jessica Waddle with 23 points including four 3-pointers. She had all but two of Ironton’s points in the first half as Chillicothe took a 24-19 lead.

Waddle hit a baseline jumper at the 7:15 mark of the third quarter to make it 26-21 and Alex Taylor’s baseline jumper at the 5:52 mark had Ironton down 30-23.

But Ironton could muster only two foul shots until Michelle Pancake hit a jumper with 5:37 to play that left the Lady Tigers trailing 44-29.

Mercedes Crockrel, who sat out most of the first half in foul trouble, hit a trey with 4:25 left and Ironton was down 46-32, but they could get no closer.

Chillicothe (6-0, 3-0) was led by Jasmine Vinson with 16 points and Megan Lee scored 14.

Ironton hosts Logan Monday.

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CHILLICOTHE (6-0, 3-0): Megan Lee 6 0 2-4 14, Vanessa Montgomery 0 0 0-1 0, Monique Lee 2 0 4-6 8, Jasmine Vinson 7 0 2-7 16, Meghan Martin 1 0 2-4 4, Brittny Strawser 2 0 0-0 4, Whitney Harewood 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 21-45 12-22 52. 3-point goals: 0-4. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 11-22=33 (Mo. Lee 11, Vinson 10. Team rebounds: 6. Assists: 9 (Martin 5). Steals: 3 (Martin 2). Turnovers: 13.

IRONTON (3-3, 1-2): Jessica Waddle 4 4 3-4 23, Mercedes Crockrel 0 1 0-0 3, Alex Taylor 2 0 0-0 4, Brea Tackett 0 0 0-0 0, Michelle Pancake 3 0 1-2 7, Edi Taylor 0 0 0-4 0, Lorna Ceasar 0 0 0-0 0, Janie Morris 1 0 0-0 2, Cortney Rister 0 0 0-0 0, Timmaya Taylor 0 0 0-0 0, Carie Rister 0 0 0-0 0, Emily Davis 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-48 4-10 36. 3-point goals: 4-17. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 7-17=24 (Waddle 7, A. Taylor 5, Pancake 4, E. Taylor 3). Assists: 8 (Crockrel 3, Tackett 3). Steals: 3 (Waddle, Crockrel, A. Taylor). Turnovers: 14.