By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers wrote their own episode and called their game performance iKarlee.

Unlike the TV show iCarly, this version featured Ironton forward Karlee McMackin who scored 8 of her 10 points in a pivotal third quarter run as Ironton downed the Rock Hill Redwomen 38-23 on Wednesday.

“I told (McMackin) she was like air. She was everywhere,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham.

Leading just 12-9 at the half and struggling on offense, Ironton scored 8 unanswered points to start the second half with McMackin scoring 6 of those points.

Alicia Murphy started the half with a layup and she also had one of her 4 assists on a feed to McMackin to finish off the run and give Ironton a 20-9 lead.

Chelsea Harper converted a 3-point play at the 3:04 mark as Rock Hill ended the scoring run, but another layup by McMackin, a free throw by Macy Wise and two by Ariel Schweickart opened up a 25-12 lead.

A steal and layup by Harper to start the fourth quarter got Rock Hill within 25-18, but the Redwomen could get no closer.

Ironton’s biggest lead was the final score as Saige Fields had a put-back and Emily Davis a baseline runner with a minute to play.

Davis finished with 11 points for Ironton (2-8). McMackin also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds as Ironton dominated the glass 45-30. Murphy pulled down 9 rebounds while Schweickart and Fields had 6 each.

Schweickart also had 5 of Ironton’s 13 steals.

Rock Hill (5-4) was led by Harper with 8 points and 8 rebounds. Brook Knipp added 7 points and 5 steals.

Neither team shot well, especially in the first half.

Ironton was 4 of 21 and committed 10 turnovers. The Lady Tigers were 11 of 32 from the floor in the second half.

“We were not being aggressive and we weren’t attacking. We were real passive the first half,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham.

“I challenged them in the locker room to be more aggressive and to start attacking. I was really proud of their effort.”

Rock Hill was a mere 4 of 22 in the first half and 9 of 42 for the game. The Redwomen were guilty of 25 turnovers.

Davis scored the first 4 points of the game as Ironton led 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Schweickart hit a 3-pointer and Murphy’s put-back helped Ironton to its 12-9 halftime lead.

Today, Ironton visits Ashland, Ky., while Rock Hill is at Fairland.

Rock Hill 3 6 7 7 = 23

Ironton 7 5 13 13 = 38

ROCK HILL (5-4): Chelsea Harper 2 0 4-5 8, Brook Knipp 3 0 1-4 7, Katie Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Tommi Butler 1 0 0-0 2, Brooke Hanshaw 0 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Blagg 1 0 0-0 2, Madison Damron 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 9-42 5-9 23. 3-point goals: 0-4. Rebounds: 9-21=30 (Harper 8, Johnson 5, Hanshaw 5). Team rebounds: 4. Assists: 2 (Johnson 2). Steals: 9 (Knipp 5). Turnovers: 25. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (2-8): Emily Davis 4 0 3-4 11, Ariel Schweickart 0 1 3-4 6, Karlee McMackin 5 0 0-0 10, Alicia Murphy 3 0 0-1 6, Saige Fields 2 0 0-0 4, Taylor Hannon 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan Leach 0 0 0-2 0, Macy Wise 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 15-53 7-13 38. 3-point goals: 1-6. Rebounds: 17-28=45 (McMackin 12, Murphy 9, Schweickart 6, Fields 6). Team rebounds: 5. Assists: 7 (Murphy 4). Steals: 13 (Schweickart 5). Turnovers: 21. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.