Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

The South Point Lady Pointers decided the early bird gets the worm.
The Lady Pointers built a 12-point first quarter lead and made it stand up in a 42-31 Ohio Valley Conference in over the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers on Thursday.
“We played well and we can play that way. We’ve just young,” said Lady Pointers’ coach Dave Adams.
South Point (5-3, 3-2) had three players in double figures as Emilee Whitt scored 12 points — all in the first half — and both Leah Lawson and Ashley Perkey had 10.
Ironton (7-3, 4-2) was led offensively by Lexi Wise with 14 points while Riley Schreck scored nine points on three 3-pointers.
South Point jumped out to a 16-4 lead as Whitt hit a pair of 3-pointers while Lawson had five points including a 3-pointer.
Wise had both baskets for Ironton.
The Lady Pointers extended the lead to 28-10 at the half as Whitt scored six more points. Wise had four points including 2-of-4 at the line.
Ironton held South Point to just three points in the third quarter and got within four points at one time.
Schreck hit a pair of trifectas, Wise had four points and both Lexie Arden and Haylee Stevens added a basket. Perkey’s three-point play was all of South Point’s offense.
Schreck hit another shot from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter but the Lady Pointers were able to convert 7-of-12 from the foul line and end any Ironton comeback hopes.
On Monday, Ironton visits Coal Grove and South Point hosts Rock Hill.
South Point    16    12    3    11    =    42
Ironton       4    6    14    7    =    31
SOUTH POINT (5-3, 3-2): Emilee Whitt 3 2 0-0 12, Sydney Markel 0 0 2-2 2, Maddy Khounlavong 0 0 2-5 2, Leah Lawson 2 1 3-4 10, Diamond Crawley 0 0 0-0 0, Madison Kearns 1 1 1-2 6, Ashley Perkey 3 0 4-7 10. Totals: 9 4 12-20 42. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.
IRONTON (7-3, 4-2): Riley Schreck 0 3 0-0 9, Lexi Wise 6 0 3-8 14, Lilly Zornes 0 0 0-0 0, Ellie Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Kameren Arden 0 0 0-0 0, Haylee Stevens 1 0 0-0 2, Katie Boyer 0 0 0-0 0, Lexie Arden 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 10 3 3-8 31. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.