IRONTON — It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was close enough for Ironton coach Doug Graham.

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers did plenty of things well as they beat the Gallipolis Blue Angels 51-28 Wednesday in a Southeastern Ohio Athletic League game.

“We started slow, but that was probably the best three quarters we’ve played all year. Everything was clicking,” said Graham.

“The defense played well. The girls communicated and were helping each other, and we passed the ball well.”

Brea Tackett had a strong all-around performance as she led Ironton (12-5, 8-3) with 15 points, five steals, four rebounds and three assists. Nikki Elswick had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Tara Young had 12 points and Amy Noe 9 points for Gallipolis (7-9, 3-7). Allie Troester finished with eight rebounds.

The sluggish start saw the lead changed hands four times in the first quarter before a layup by Alex Taylor off a pass from Tackett enabled Ironton to tie the game at 8-8.

Noe hit a 3-pointer to start the second quarter and put Gallipolis up, but Ironton ran off eight unanswered points and never trailed again.

Elswick made three baskets and Lorna Ceaser added a layup as the Lady Tigers went up 16-11 with 3:55 to play in the half.

Morgan Daniels hit three free throws on a couple of trips to the foul line to make it 16-14, but Tackett hit four foul shots and Elswick had a put-back and Ironton led 22-14 at the break.

Young nailed a 3-pointer to start the second half and get Gallipolis within 22-17 at the 7:15 mark, but Ironton’s defense did not allow another point in the quarter and the offense went on a 14-0 run including a steal and layup by Tackett with 16 seconds on the clock that made it 36-17 at the end of the quarter.

“We really got after it on defense,” said Graham.

Ironton led by 20 points early in the fourth quarter after a two foul shots by Ceaser. Young hit another triple with 5:45 to play and Gallipolis was down 40-24, but the Blue Angels could get no closer.

Gallipolis 8 6 3 11 = 28

Ironton 8 14 14 15 = 51

GALLIPOLIS (7-9, 3-7): Samantha Barnes 0-4 (0-3) 0-0 0, Amy Noe 2-8 (2-5) 3-4 9, Tara Young 4-8 (3-4) 1-4 12, Allie Troester 0-9 (0-1) 0-0 0, Morgan Daniels 1-6 (0-0) 3-6 5, Haley Rosier 1-2 (0-0) 0-0 2, Kara Jackson 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Ciara Jackson 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 8-39 7-14 28. 3-point goals: 5-13. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 10 offensive, 16 defensive = 26 (Troester 8, Daniels 6). Team rebounds: 3. Assists: 3. Steals: 3 (Young 2). Turnovers: 14.

IRONTON (12-5, 8-3): Alex Taylor 3-5 (0-1) 0-0 6, Brea Tackett 3-8 (0-4) 9-10 15, Nikki Elswick 6-11 (0-0) 2-4 14, Janie Morris 2-10 (0-3) 2-2 6, Lorna Ceaser 2-2 (0-0 4-5 8, Rebekkah Potter 0-4 (0-0) 0-0 0, Emily Lilly 0-1 (0-0) 0-0 0, Taylor Lilly 1-1 (0-0) 0-0 2, Emily Davis 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 17-42 17-20 51. 3-point goals: 0-8. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 12 offensive, 21 defensive = 33 (Elswick 10, Morris 5, Tackett 4, Potter 4). Team rebounds: 2. Assists: 7 (Tackett 3). Steals: 10 (Tackett 5, Morris 2, Potter 2, Taylor 1). Turnovers: 10.