The St. Joseph Flyers are starting to learn how to play without Shawn Hacker.

Despite playing without their leading scorer and rebounder for the second straight game, the Flyers battled Fairview close until the final minutes of the game before the Eagles pulled away to a 70-52 win Friday.

St. Joseph (3-15) trailed by just four points at the half and six with five minutes to play in the game.

"We played right with them. Considering we got beat by 33 last week, that's quite an improvement. The guys played well despite what they were up against. They're still playing hard," Flyers coach Adam Simpson said.

Hacker, the Flyers 6-foot-7 senior center, eclipsed the 1,000-point career scoring mark despite a hairline tear of a tendon in his knee. The points were the result of Fairview allowing Hacker to score to start the game.

St. Joseph got the opening tip, threw the ball down the floor to Hacker who scored as the Fairview defense stood and watched.

"That was a real nice gesture on (Fairview coach) Rex Cooksey's part. He's a class act," Simpson said.

Hacker becomes the ninth player in St. Joseph history to reach 1,000 points. The group includes Jim Mahlmeister, Bill Dressel, sons Joe Dressel and Bill Dressel, David Gagai, Pat Holmes, and Chuck Jones. Lynette Anson is the only female member of the elite group.

Cody Fannin had 21 points and 15 rebounds while Brett Cooksey scored 18 to lead the Eagles (11-9). Alex Barker added 11 points.

Alex Swarts had 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Flyers. Jeremy Addis finished with 15 points and two assists.

Fannin scored nine points as Fairview took a 21-16 lead in the first quarter. Addis had seven points and Swarts five for the Flyers.

"Jeremy Addis hit some big shots the opening quarter, and Alex Swarts played a heck of a game in place of Shawn on the blocks," Simpson said.

Ryan Staton, Addis, and Swarts all had four each in the second quarter as the Flyers cut the lead to 34-30 at the break.

St. Joseph managed just seven points in the third quarter and Fairview went up 50-37.

"They picked up their defensive pressure and got us out of sync," Simpson said.

Swarts had six and Kurt Jordan four points in the fourth quarter as St. Joseph got within six points with five minutes to play. But Cooksey had 10 points including 8 of 10 from the line as Fairview pulled away. As a team, the Eagles were 12 of 14 at the line in the quarter.

Fairview21131620-70

St. Joseph1614715-52

FAIRVIEW (11-9):

Alex Barker 3 1 2-2 11, Brett Cooksey 5 0 8-10 18, Phillip Meeks 1 1 0-0 5, Billy Terry 3 0 2-4 8, Cody Fannin 8 1 2-3 21, Justin Hutchinson 0 1 0-0 3, Cody Black 0 0 1-2 1, Trevor Holbrook 0 0 2-2 2, Craig McCormick 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 20

4

18-25

70. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.

ST. JOSEPH (3-15):

Kurt Jordan 2 0 1-2 5, Michael Basedow 2 0 0-0 4, Ryan Schwab 1 0 0-0 2, Cory Lewis 0 1 0-0 3, Jeremy Addis 4 1 4-6 15, Alex Swarts 6 0 5-7 17, Ryan Staton 1 0 2-2 4, Chad Haas 0 0 0-1 0, Shawn Hacker 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 19-42

(2)

12-18

52. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Addis, Basedow. Rebounds: 23 (Swarts 14). Assists: 4 (Addis 2). Steals: 4 (Lewis 3). Turnovers: 16. Blocked shots: 3.