Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

ATHENS — Forget the Z. The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers offense was from A to W.
Lexi Wise and Lexie Arden combined for 44 points as the Lady Fighting Tigers opened the season with a 65-42 win over the Athens Lady Bulldogs.
Wise led all scorers with 24 points and Arden scored 20.
Samantha LaFon scored eight points and Riley Schreck had seven points including a 3-pointer for Ironton (1-0).
Athens tried to stay in the game with 3-point shooting. Laura Manderick had 15 points and Emma Harter 14 combined for five 3-pointers. The Lady Bulldogs had seven 3-pointers as a team.
The Lady Bulldogs hit a 3-pointer to start the game but Ironton tied with on a trey by Arden.
Arden scored eight points in the quarter and LaFon scored six of her points as Ironton took a 17-13 lead.
Wise took over in the second quarter and score nine points as Ironton opened up a 35-22 halftime lead.
Athens trailed 47-35 after three quarters but Ironton blew the game open in the fourth quarter by outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 18-7.
Ironton visits Portsmouth on Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
Ironton    17    18    12    18     =    65
Athens    13    9    13    7     =    42
IRONTON (1-0): Riley Schreck 2 1 0-0 7, Samantha LaFon 4 0 0-0 8, Lexi Wise 8 0 8-11 24, Lilly Zornes 0 0 0-0 0, Ellie Williams 2 0 0-0 4, Kameren Arden 0 0 0-0 0, Haylee Stevens 0 0 0-0 0, Katie Boyer 2 0 0-0 4, Lexie Arden 3 4 0-0 18. Totals: 20 5 10-13 65.
ATHENS (0-2): Lilly Mills 3 0 0-0 6, Bella Tan 0 0 0-0 0, Emma Harter 3 2 1-3 14, Laura Manderick 3 3 0-0 15, Mindi Gregory 0 0 0-0 0, Emmarald Francois 0 0 0-0 0, Kaylee Stewart 1 1 2-4 7. Totals: 9 7 3-7 42.