Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WELLSTON — The hole was just too deep.

The St. Joseph Flyers tried to rally from a 16-point second half deficit only to fall short in a 57-47 loss to the Wellston Golden Rockets on Tuesday.

Wellston took a 4-0 lead to start the game but St. Joseph went on a 6-0 run to take the lead.

The Rockets then took a 7-6 lead on a 3-pointer by Justus Ousley with 3:25 left in the quarter and never trailed again. The lead was 13-9 at the end of the quarter.

Justin Mahlmeister drained a trifecta with 4:30 left in the half to get the Flyers even at 18, but Wellston went on a 10-2 run to close the half and led 28-20 at the break.

The Rockets built a 43-27 lead at the end of the third quarter, their largest lead of the game.

St. Joseph closed the gap to 45-41 with 5:05 left, but Wellston scored six straight to lead 51-41 and closed the game with a 12-6 run over the final 3:45.

Mahlmeister led the Flyers with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Troy Scott scored 12 points and Eli Lewis had 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots for St. Joseph (6-11).

Wellston (9-7) was led by Ousley with 29 points and 14 rebounds.

The Flyers were 21 of 48 from the field but made only one of seven free throw attempts.

Wellston connected on 24 of 62 floor shots and went 5-of-9 at the line.

Each team made four 3-point goals.

St. Joseph visits New Boston next Tuesday.

St. Joseph 9 11 7 20 = 47

Wellston 13 15 15 14 = 57

ST. JOSEPH (6-11): Hunter Pemberton 1 0 0-0 2, Grant Geswein 0 0 0-2 0, Kyle Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Chris Lewis 0 0 0-0 0, Troy Scott 3 2 0-2 12, Eli Lewis 3 0 0-0 6, Joseph Payton 0 0 0-1 0, Justin Mahlmeister 8 2 1-2 23, Lane Johnson 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 21-48 1- 47. 3-point goals: 4-11. Rebounds: 26 (E. Lewis 7, Mahlmeister 7). Assists: 15 (Pemberton 4). Steals: 6 (Mahlmeister 3). Blocked shots: 2 (E. Lewis 2). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 12. Fouled out; None.

WELLSTON (9-7): Braydon Womeldorf 0 1 0-0 3, Colton Ervin 0 0 0-1 0, Andrew Richards 4 0 0-2 8, Dakota Brown 3 0 0-0 6, Tyler Walton 0 0 0-0 0, Justus Ousley 12 1 2-2 29, Jordan Arthur 0 2 0-0 6, Lane Bunnell 0 0 0-0 0, Toriano Smith 1 0 3-4 5. Totals: 24-62 5-9 57. 3-point goals: 4-11. Rebounds: 40 (Ousley 14, Smith 9). Assists: 18 (Smith 7, Brown 6). Steals: 5 (Smith 3). Blocked shots: 4 (Ousley 2). Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.