Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — Senior Destiny Dolen was recognized prior to Monday’s game for her 500th career rebound.
She then proceeded to prove she wasn’t just a rebounder. She can score, too.
Dolen scored a season-high 16 points as the Coal Grove Lady Hornets downed the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers 56-36 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
“(Dolen) didn’t know (about the presentation) so I wanted to surprise her with a game ball at the beginning of the game,” said Coal Grove coach Rick Roach. “It must have got her motivated because she scored a season-high 16 points.”
Dolen was joined in double figures by Baylee McKnight and Addi Dillow with 13 points each while Kaleigh Murphy grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Lady Hornets keep pace in the OVC title chase.
Coal Grove is 16-4 overall and tied for first place with Fairland at 11-2. On Thursday, the Lady Hornets look to clinch at least a share of the title as they host South Point. Fairland is at home against Rock Hill.
Ironton (9-12, 9-5) was led by Haylee Stevens with 14 points as she drained four 3-pointers. Riley Schreck had eight points as she knocked down two more trifectas. Samantha LaFon added eight points and seven rebounds.
“Don’t let Ironton’s record fool you. They are a good team and Schreck and Stevens can flat out shoot the 3-ball,” said Roach. “I felt we played good defense most of the night.”
Coal Grove created 18 turnovers including 12 steals. Murphy had five thefts.
Ironton tied the game at 6-6 on a 3-pointer by Stevens with 2:20 left in the first quarter but a 3-pointer and two foul shots by McKnight gave Coal Grove an 11-7 lead.
The Lady Tigers tied the game at 13-all with 5:39 left in the half on trey by Schreck. The lead changed hands four times before a layup by Abbey Hicks and a putback by Dolen with 41 seconds on the clock made it 23-18 at the half.
Ironton was within 28-23 on a 3-pointer by Stevens but Coal Grove used a layup by Dillow with 4:20 to go in the third quarter to lead 33-23. A short jumper by McKnight and a steal and layup by Murphy put the lead at 41-29 to end the quarter.
The Lady Hornets continued to pull away in the fourth quarter and used a 9-1 run to lead 54-34 with under a minute to play.
Ironton hosts Lucasville Valley on Thursday while Coal Grove entertains Greenup County on Tuesday.
Ironton 7 11 11 7 = 36
Coal Grove 11 12 18 15 = 56
IRONTON (9-12, 9-5): Riley Schreck 1 2 0-0 8, Samantha LaFon 2 0 4-10 8, Lydia Hannan 0 0 1-3 1, Elli Williams 1 0 0-2 2, Haylee Stevens 0 4 2-2 14, Kameren Arden 0 1 0-0 3, Jada Rogers 0 0 0-0 0, Abigail Patterson 0 0 0-0 0, Sophie Caines 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-36 7-17 36. 3-pt goals: 7-18. Rebounds: 8-O, 20-D = 28 (LaFon 7, Williams 5, Stevens 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 5. Assists: 5 (Schreck 2, Williams 2). Steals: 3 (Stevens 2, Schreck). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Williams, Hannan.
COAL GROVE (16-4, 11-2): Addi Dillow 6 0 1-3 13, Baylee McKnight 2 1 6-8 13, Kaleigh Murphy 3 0 1-4 7, Destiny Dolen 7 0 2-2 16, Lauren Crum 1 1 0-2 5, Jaiden Griffith 0 0 0-0 0, Abbey Hicks 1 0 0-1 2, Elli Holmes 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-48 10-20 56. 3-pt goals: 2-14. Rebounds: 14-O, 19-D = 33 (Murphy 11, Dolen 7). Team/deadball rebounds: 6. Assists: 11 (Dillow 3, McKnight 3, Murphy 3). Steals: 12 (Murphy 5). Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.