By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

Once the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers got focused, they got down to taking care of business.

After a lackluster first half, the Lady Tigers rebounded with a strong second half and rallied past the Boyd County Lady Lions 54-48 Monday.

“We didn’t have any energy or emotion in the first quarter,” said Graham. “I challenged them at halftime and they responded. We were down 11 and came back and won. That was quite a turn around.”

Boyd County came out charged. The Lady Lions connected on 7 of 10 floor shots including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. A 35-footer that banked in at the buzzer by Logan Fraley staked the Lady Lions to an 18-11 lead.

But Boyd County’s long-range shooting couldn’t keep the same pace the rest of the game. The Lady Lions were just 6 of 23 for the game from the 3-point line and just 3 of 18 after the first quarter.

“Overall our defense was pretty good. We got out and contested almost every shot. There weren’t that many open looks,” said Graham.

Fraley had another 3-pointer and Taylor Wheeler made two foul shots with two seconds left as Boyd County went up 28-18 at the break.

Boyd County took a 33-22 lead on a putback by Brittany Luttrell with 5:08 left in the third quarter.

But Nikki Elswick buried a trifecta and then made two technical free throws after she was punched in the back of the head.

Alex Taylor hit one of two foul shots and Elswick followed up a missed shot as Ironton was within 33-30 with 2:48 on the clock.

Two foul shots by Fraley with four seconds left gave the Lady Lions a 36-32 lead.

Ironton’s Ariel Schweickart converted a steal into a layup a minute into the fourth quarter, but Fraley answered with a triple and Boyd County led 39-34.

Elswick hit a 15-footer and Alicia Murphy’s layup with 3:02 left put Ironton up for good at 44-43.

Murphy had another layup with 1:07 to go that extended the lead to 50-44 and Ironton converted 4 of 6 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

“This was a real good win. This was a quality win over a quality opponent,” said Graham.

Elswick led Ironton with 27 points — 20 in the second half — and 15 rebounds. Taylor had 15 points, 10 rebounds and five steals while Murphy added 10 points and five boards.

Boyd County (10-4) was led by Wheeler with 12 points and Fraley had 11.

Ironton (9-4) hosts Chillicothe Wednesday.

Boyd County 18 10 8 12 = 48

Ironton 11 7 14 22 = 54

BOYD COUNTY (10-4): Kelcie Chaney 0 0 4-6 4, Kaitlyn Brown 0 0 0-0 0, Courtney Moore 0 2 0-0 6, Brittany Luttrell 4 0 1-2 9, Kelsey Plybon 2 0 0-0 4, Emily Stewart 0 1 0-0 3, Taylor Wheeler 4 0 4-4 12, Logan Fraley 0 3 2-2 11. Totals: 16-46 10-14 54. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 6-23. Rebounds: 6 offense, 18 defense = 24 (Fraley 7, Luttrell 6). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Assists: 7 (Chaney 3, Fraley 2). Steals: 5 (Moore 3). Turnovers: 13.

IRONTON (9-4): Alex Taylor 4 0 7-10 15, Nikki Elswick 8 1 8-10 27, Ariel Schweickart 1 0 0-0 2, Karlee McMackin 0 0 0-0 0, Alicia Murphy 4 0 2-4 10, Emily Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Torie Klaiber 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-42 17-24 54. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 1-3. Rebounds: 11 offense, 27 defense = 38 (Elswick 15, Taylor 10). Team/deadball rebounds: 1. Assists: 5 (Taylor 2, Murphy 2). Steals: 8 (Taylor 5). Turnovers: 17.