Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers were in “The Zone.”

The Lady Tigers never wondered from the task at hand as they beat the Westfall Lady Mustangs 56-37 Monday.

“They’ve been focused and locked in at practice the past week. That plays a big part in the way they played. The girls gave a lot of effort and energy,” said Ironton coach Doug Graham.

Ironton’s early pressure and hustle force five first quarter turnovers as the Lady Tigers jumped out to a 14-3 late in the first quarter. It was 18-9 at the end of the quarter.

Graham said his team was hustling, scrapping and diving all over the floor in a strong defensive effort that limited Westfall to single digit scoring in three of the four quarters.

“They were getting after it. Cheyenne Scott and Macy Wise made a play early where one tipped the ball away and the other dove for it. That’s what makes good teams great,” said Graham.

Scott had a career-high 20 points to go with 10 rebounds and four steals to lead Ironton (5-6). Lexie Barrier had 18 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots.

“Cheyenne played tremendous. She made the breaks on defense that got us going. And Lexie Barrier, what can’t she do?” said Graham.

Regan Stonerock had 12 points and nine rebounds and Jess Miller 11 points for Westfall (8-4).

A trifecta by Barrier and a putback by Wise gave Ironton a 14-3 lead at the 2:14 mark. Stonerock’s 3-pointer — her second of the quarter — got Westfall within 18-9.

A layup by O.J. Mathes pulled Westfall within 21-15 with 3:45 left in the half, but Scott hit a short runner in the lane and Barrier sank two foul shots and Ironton led 27-17 at the break.

Barrier hit a layup at the 5:32 mark of the third quarter to give Ironton a 32-20 lead. Miller second seven straight points as Westfall closed to within 32-27 with 4:25 on the clock.

But Barrier took over and hit four baskets including a 16-footer with 1;28 to go and the lead was 40-31. After Kelly Fuchs made two foul shots for Westfall, Wise had two free throws with two seconds left and it was 42-33 heading into the fourth quarter.

Wise converted a three-point play, Alyssa Lewis drained a triple and Scott went coast-to-coast for a layup to put Ironton ahead 50-33 with 6:28 and virtually seal the outcome.

The Lady Tigers host Oak Hill in a key game Thursday.

Westfall 9 8 16 4 = 37

Ironton 18 9 15 14 = 56

WESTFALL (8-4): O.J. Mathes 2 0 1-3 5, Kelly Fuchs 2 0 2-3 6, Kelsie Robinson 1 0 1-2 3, Regan Stonerock 3 2 0-0 12, Jess Miller 5-0 1-1 11, McKenzie Peters 0 0 0-0 0, Emily Walker 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-54 5-9 37. 3-point goals: 2-15. Rebounds: 13-OR, 19-DR = 32 (Stonerock 9, Miller 4, Robinson 4). Team/deadball rebounds: 5. Assists: 2 (Stonerock 2). Steals: 3 (Stonerock, Robinson, Fuchs). Turnovers: 14. Blocked shots: 1 (Walker). Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.

IRONTON (5-6): Jordan Hannan 2 0 0- 4, Taylor Hannan 2 0 0-0 4, Lexie Barrier 6 1 3-4 18, Macy Wise 2 0 3-3 7, Cheyenne Scott 8 1 1-1 20, Alyssa Lewis 0 1 0-0 3, Karlie Rase 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-55 7-8 56. 3-point goals: 3-10. Rebounds: 13-OR, 26-DR = 39 (Barrier 13, Scott 10, Wise 6). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Assists: 6 (T. Hannan 2, Barrier 2). Steals: 10 (Scott 4, Barrier 3). Turnovers: 13. Blocked shots: 5 (Barrier 5). Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.