The Ironton Fighting Tigers didn’t just feel sick, they looked sick and played like they were sick.

But the Fighting Tigers were able to find an antidote in the fourth quarter that turned a tied game after three quarters into a 54-40 Division III sectional tournament win over the Crooksville Ceramics Wednesday.

The flu bug has decimated the city schools to the point classes were cancelled for the rest of the week. The Fighting Tigers showed the effects of the illness, especially leading scorer Michael Lamb who tried to play but struggled to get up and down the court.

“We were most concerned about our confidence, not how lethargic we were. It’s been a rough two weeks with a couple of losses and then being sick,” said Ironton coach Mark LaFon.

The game was tied 34-34 heading into the fourth quarter when Johnathon Schweickart hit a 3-pointer at the 6:25 mark to ignite 9-0 run.

Lukas Morris made three foul shots during the scoring spurt and Tommy Waginger drained a trifecta as Ironton took a 43-34 lead with 3:55 to play.

The Ceramics’ Cory Daubenmire answered with a 10-footer, then stole the ball and score to cut the deficit to 43-38.

But Ironton found some more energy.

First, Morris made a foul shot. Schweickart then stole the ball and threw a long pass to Malcolm Morton for a layup. Morton fed Lamb for a layup and then he stole the ball and scored himself for a 50-38 lead with 2:25 left.

Waginger’s two free throws with a minute to play secured Ironton’s place in the sectional title game at 8 p.m. Saturday against South Point.

“We just had that one surge of energy in the fourth quarter,” said LaFon. “I told the seniors at the start of the fourth quarter that this is it for them. I told them they had to make some plays.

“You can still do things even if you’re sick or tired.”

Waginger led Ironton with 15 points including seven points in the third quarter when the Fighting Tigers erased a 20-19 halftime deficit to draw even.

Waginger, one of the many players who has been sick, said the illness had a definite effect on their play.

“I thought we got tired quick. I felt good when I shot. My shot was just short (the first half),” said Waginger.

Ironton (14-7) dominated the glass with a 50-26 rebound advantage including 23 offensive boards. Morris had nine rebounds and Lamb eight in less than two total quarters of play.

“I feel awful,” Lamb said after the game.

Tyler Justice had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Crooksville. Slade Mumford added 11 points and Bobby McFee 10 rebounds.

Crooksville 11 9 14 6 = 40

Ironton 15 4 15 20 = 54

CROOKSVILLE (5-16): Cory Daubenmire 3 0 0-0 6, Bobby McFee 1 1 0-0 5, Slade Mumford 1 3 0-0 11, Tyler Justice 6 0 0-0 12, Tyler Barkhurst 3 0 0-0 6, Kesler Spung 0 0 0-0 0, James Montgomery 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-53 0-0 40. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Mumford (4th 1:00). 3-point goals: 4-23. Rebounds: 7 offense, 19 defense = 26 (Justice 10, McFee 10). Team/deadball rebounds: None. Assists: 6 (Daubenmire 3, McFee 2). Steals: 7 (Barkhurst 2, Daubenmire 2). Turnovers: 16. Blocked shots: Barkhurst 1.

IRONTON (14-7): Tommy Waginger 2 3 2-2 15, Malcolm Morton 3 0 1-4 7, Lukas Morris 2 0 5-9 9, Erin Edens 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Lamb 3 0 3-5 9, Johnathon Schweickart 1 1 2-2 7, Travis Elliott 1 0 1-3 3, Robbie Webb 0 0 0-0 0, J.P. Taylor 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 18-57 14-25 54. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 4-17. Rebounds: 23 offense, 27 defense = 50 (Morris 9, Lamb 8). Team/deadball rebounds: 7. Assists: 10 (Morton 3, Morris 2, Waginger 2). Steals: 11 (Morton 4, Schweickart 2). Turnovers: 14. Blocked shots: Lamb 2.