CANNONSBURG, Ky. — The shooting statistic theory was shot.

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers were just 17 of 47 from the field for 36 percent including 8 of 27 in the second half for 29.6 percent.

Looking at those statistics should mean a loss, but Ironton put the clamps on the Rockcastle County Lady Rebels and the Lady Tigers came away with a 40-37 win and the Pepsi/Kentucky Friday Chicken Colonel’s Classic championship Friday.

“If you shoot like we did, you figure to lose. But that just goes to show how good our defense is. We shot like that and still won the game,” Ironton coach Amy Hughes said.

While Ironton’s shooting numbers were low, Rockcastle was only 15 of 52 from the floor for 28.8 percent for the game and 7 of 29 for 24 percent in the second half.

“The shooting wasn’t good, but the defenses had a lot to do with it. We still did a lot of good things. It’s nice to finally win this tournament,” Hughes said of the team’s title in its third year of the Colonel Classic.

Sara Hacker scored 21 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots for Ironton. Danielle Henderson scored 10 points while Mandi Boykin had eight rebounds.

Hacker, Boykin and defensive specialist Ciara Taylor were named to the all-tournament team.

Ironton (10-0) trailed 14-13 at the end of the first quarter after four lead changes and a tie.

Two foul shots by Hacker and a driving layup by Hacker with 45 seconds left in the half put Ironton ahead 21-20 at the break.

Rockcastle tied the game at 25-25 on a layup by Sarah Rowe with 5:37 left in the third quarter, but a 15-footer by Hacker and a putback by Hacker gave Ironton the lead for good and it was 32-28 at the end of the quarter.

Henderson’s layup with 1:33 to play gave Ironton its biggest lead at 38-32. The Lady Tigers had a chance to put the game away but converted just 2 of 8 foul shots down the stretch.

Ironton138118=40

Rockcastle14689=37

IRONTON (10-0): Jessica Waddle 1-9 (0-1) 3-7 5, Danielle Henderson 5-12 (0-0) 0-0 10, Mandi Boykin 2-8 (0-0) 0-0 4, Ciara Taylor 0-2 (0-0) 0-2 0, Sara Hacker 9-15 (0-1) 3-5 21, Rachel Walker 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Kayla Wileman 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0, Mercedes Crockrel 0-1 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 17-47

(0-2)

6-14

40. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 12-20=32 (Boykin 8, Hacker 7, Henderson 5, Taylor 5, Waddle 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 0. Assists: 5 (Hacker 2, Waddle 2). Steals: 6 (Boykin 2, Hacker 2). Turnovers: 10. Blocked shots: 4 (Hacker 2, Boykin, Henderson).

ROCKCASTLE COUNTY (6-6): Ashley Lunsford 4-8 (2-4) 0-0 10, Jesse Asher 1-11 (1-3) 0-0 3, Sarah Rowe 4-7 (1-2) 0-0 9, Mary Saylor 1-10 (0-4) 1-2 3, Rachel Killen 4-11 (2-7) 0-0 10, Sonya Lunsford 1-2 (0-0) 0-0 2, Katy Matingly 0-1 (0-0) 0-0 0, Sara Barnett 0-0 (0-0) 0-0 0. Totals: 15-52

(6-20)

1-4

37. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: A. Lunsford (4th 0:09). Rebounds: 15-17=32 (Rowe 10, A.Lunsford 8). Team/deadball rebounds: 8. Assists: 6 (Asher 3). Steals: 5 (A. Lunsford 4). Turnovers: 15.