Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

It was Ringo Starr who once sang the Beatles’ hit song, “I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends.”

Justin Mahlmeister is the leading scorer and rebounder for St. Joseph, but when he sat out half the game in foul trouble, Eli Lewis had a big game and Hunter Pemberton and Troy Scott made some key plays as the Flyers held on to beat the Rock Hill Redmen 57-54 on Tuesday.

“Rock Hill shot the lights out the first half. We just hung around and hung around until they cooled off,” said Flyers’ coach Jeremy Williams.

“Eli did a nice job in the second half and Hunter hit a big three in the fourth quarter. Eli, Troy and Hunter all stepped up.”

Lewis had 20 points and 6 rebounds to lead the Flyers (6-7). Mahlmeister had 14 points and collected his 500th career rebound. Troy Scott had 11 points and 6 rebounds.

Joey Stidham scored a career-high 21 points including four 3-pointers to lead the Redmen (3-10). Layden Delawder scored 15 points with three 3-pointers.

While Rock Hill shot well in the first half, the Flyers turned the tables in the second half. St. Joseph was 10 of 28 in the first half and 10 of 14 after the break.

“We took care of the ball and executed better in the second half,” said Williams.

Stidham had a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter as Rock Hill took a 12-10 lead.

Jacob Falls had 5 of his 7 points and Evan Morris scored 4 points in the second quarter as Rock Hill went up 28-25 at the half.

Lewis scored 10 points in the third quarter as the Flyers rallied to take a 39-38 lead.

Stidham and Delawder scored 8 points each to account for Rock Hill’s fourth quarter total, but the Flyers were 9 of 12 from the foul line as Scott scored 7 and Mahlmeister 6 points.

Stidham putback cut the deficit to 55-54. Scott made two free throws with less than 20 seconds to make it 57-54.

Rock Hill had one final chance, but the Flyers tipped a pass and the ball rolled toward half-court as Lewis, Stidham and Joseph Payton all fought for possession as time expired.

“We defended well at the end,” said Williams.

Rock Hill 12 16 10 16 = 54

St. Joseph 10 15 14 18 = 57

ROCK HILL (3-10): Evan Morris 2 0 2-2 6, Joey Stidham 2 4 5-5 21, Austin Collins 2 0 1-2 5, John Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Falls 3 0 1-2 7, Shane Harper 0 0 0-0 0, Layden Delawder 3 3 0-0 15. Totals: 12 7 9-11 54. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

ST. JOSEPH (6-7): Hunter Pemberton 2 1 0-1 7, Grant Geswein 1 0 0-2 2, Chris Lewis 0 0 0-0 0, Troy Scott 2 0 7-8 11, Eli Lewis 9 0 2-3 20, Joseph Payton 0 1 0-0 3, Justin Mahlmeister 4 0 6-8 14, Lane Johnson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-42 15-22 57. 3-point goals: 2-9. Rebounds: 23 (Scott 6, Mahlmeister 3). Assists: 10 (Mahlmeister 3, Payton 20. Steals: 3. Blocked shots: 6 (E. Lewis 6). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.