Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — It was a matchup of two teams hurt by injuries and illness, but it was the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers who found a way to overcome their adversities.
Ironton used a strong defensive effort and clutch scoring to beat the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 41-36 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.
Lexi Wise scored 16 points — 12 coming in the first half — to lead the Lady Fighting Tigers (8-3, 5-2). Lexie Arden scored 12 points, Riley Schreck had nine points and Haylee Stevens added four.
The loss put a damper on the game for Coal Grove senior Emily Compliment who scored 17 points and reached the 1,000-career points milestone.
Destiny Dolen added seven points while Bailey McKnight and Kasey Murphy scored six points each.
Only four players scored for each team.
“We didn’t rebound well. We’ve been doing a good job with assisting, but this game was horrible,” said Coal Grove coach Rick Roach.
“Ironton did a good job mixing up defenses and we couldn’t get in any rhythm early. We got down 10 in the third and cut it to two, but Ironton scores a couple of baskets and then slowed it down.”
Ironton led 10-6 after the first quarter as Wise had six points. Dolen scored four including two foul shots.
Compliment scored eight points and McKnight hit a 3-pointer as Coal Grove (8-2, 4-2) rallied to tie the game at the half, 18-18.
Wise scored six points and Stevens had a basket to comprise Ironton’s scoring in the quarter.
Arden came out and took over with eight points in the third quarter as the Lady Fighting Tigers were up 32-30.  Compliment and McKnight each hit 3-pointers in the quarter for Coal Grove.
The Lady Hornets were forced to foul and Ironton converted 6-of-8 from the line as Arden and Schreck were 2-for-2 and Wise 2-for-4. Schreck also drained a trifecta to account for Ironton’s nine points in the quarter.
Murphy scored four points as Coal Grove managed just six points.
“We have to recover and play a good South Point team on Thursday,” said Roach.
On Wednesday, Ironton will host Chillicothe. On Thursday, Ironton entertains Portsmouth while Coal Grove host Portsmouth.
Ironton       10    8    14    9    =    41
Coal Grove    6    12    12    6    =    36
IRONTON (8-3, 5-2): Riley Schreck 2 1 2-2 9, Lexi Wise 6 0 4-9 16, Lilly Zornes 0 0 0-0 0, Elli Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Kameren Arden 0 0 0-0 0, Haylee Stevens 2 0 0-0 4, Sophie Caines 0 0 0-0 0, Lexie Arden 5 0 2-2 12. Totals: 15 1 8-13 41. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.
COAL GROVE (8-3, 4-2): Addie Dillow 0 0 0-0 0, Bailey McKnight 0 2 0-0 6, Emily Compliment 5 1 4-4 17, Kasey Murphy 3 0 0-0 6, Destiny Dolen 2 0 3-4 7, Jaiden Griffith 0 0 0-0 0, Emily Bryant 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 3 7-8 36. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.