Some teams live and die with the 3-point shot.

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers don’t live by the 3-point shot, but it proved to be the kiss of death for them Monday.

Jackson hit 9-of-20 shots from 3-point range including three in the fourth quarter as they beat the sluggish Lady Fighting Tigers 48-44 in a Southeastern Ohio Athletic League game.

“We didn’t play very hard all night. We were expecting an easy game and we didn’t take it seriously,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham shaking his head in disgust.

“Jackson out-hustled us the whole game. They wanted it more than we did. They were the better team tonight.”

Ironton (12-6, 8-4) jumped out to a 7-2 lead to start the game but a 3-pointer by Jessica Webb just before the end of the first quarter cut Ironton’s lead to 12-11.

Kelsey Martin hit a pair of 3-pointers, Meredith Harless another and Kennedy Shasteen a 17-footer at the 3:54 mark that gave Jackson a 22-14 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Lady Tigers scored eight unanswered points including a layup by Brea Tackett with 32 seconds left in the half to draw even at 22.

Martin made two foul shots but Alex Taylor connected on a pair and it was 24-24 at the break.

A layup by Nikki Elswick off a pass from Rebekkah Potter and two foul shots by Lorna Ceaser gave Ironton a 29-25 lead early in the third quarter.

Jackson used a couple of triples by Emileigh Cooper to take a 31-29 lead at the 4:15 mark.

Ironton tied the game three more times the rest of the quarter including 34-34 on a 15-footer by Ceaser with 12 seconds on the clock.

Two foul shots by Taylor and a layup by Ceaser sent Ironton up 38-34 with seven minutes to go, but Meredith Harless hit a 17-footer and Martin banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key as Jackson went back in front 39-38.

Layups by Elswick and Ceaser put the Lady Tigers ahead 44-40 with 1:40 to go, but 3-pointers by Martin and Harless gave Jackson the lead for good at 46-44 with 4 seconds to play.

Ceaser missed two foul shots that would have tied the game and Ironton was forced to foul. Martin hit both shots and it was 48-44 with 17 seconds left. Ironton rushed into its offense and turned the ball over, thus sealing the outcome.

Ceaser had 15 points and seven rebounds while Elswick added 13 points and seven more rebounds to pace Ironton.

Martin had 20 points including four 3-pointers to pace Jackson (11-6, 5-6). Mallory Geiger had 10 rebounds.

Jackson 11 13 10 14 = 48

Ironton 12 12 10 10 = 44

JACKSON (11-6, 5-6): Kelsey Martin 0 4 8-14 20, Nicole Chapman 2 0 2-2 6, Mallory Geiger 0 0 1-2 1, Meredith Harless 1 2 0-0 8, Emileigh Cooper 0 2 0-0 6, Mariah Harless 0 0 0-0 0, Sarah Martin 0 0 0-0 0, Kari Jenkins 1 0 0-1 2, Jessica Webb 0 1 0-0 3, Kennedy Shasteen 1 0 0-0 2, Kendra Reed 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-42 11-18 48. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 9-20. Rebounds: 13offense, 15 defense = 28 (Geiger 10, Martin 5). Team rebounds: 5. Assists: 1 (Cooper). Steals: 9 (Cooper 4, Me. Harless 3). Turnovers: 19. Blocked shots: None.

IRONTON (12-6, 8-4): Alex Taylor 1 0 5-6 7, Brea Tackett 2 0 0-2 4, Nikki Elswick 6 0 1-2 13, Janie Morris 1 0 1-2 3, Lorna Ceaser 5 0 5-11 15, Emily Lilly 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Lilly 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-39 14-25 44. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 0-5. Rebounds: 11 offense, 19 defense = 30 (Elswick 7, Ceaser 7, Taylor 6). Team rebounds: 4. Assists: 11 (Tackett 5, Ceaser 2). Steal: 9 (Elswick 3, Morris 2, Taylor 2). Turnovers: 19. Blocked shots: Elswick 2.