Flyers can#8217;t escape same old script
Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 14, 2008
ATHENS — The game scripts this season for the St. Joseph Flyers seemed a lot like the old “Batman” TV series. Play a new opponent each week but face the same premise.
All season the Flyers played well early and had a lead only to lose down the stretch. It was the same story Tuesday as St. Joseph dropped a 70-66 decision to the South Gallia Rebels in the Division IV sectional tournament semifinals.
“It was the same old story,” said Flyers coach Kevin Sheridan. “We hold them to 23 points the first half and then we give up 21 in the third quarter. You have to play defense all the time. When we play defense, we get our offense going.”
The Flyers built an 11-point lead midway through the third quarter, but 12 points by Tyler Duncan began the Rebels’ comeback.
“We got complacent and you could see the momentum shift. We had some crucial turnovers and in tight ball games that makes a difference,” said Sheridan.
South Gallia (7-14) used a box-and-one on Flyers’ leading scorer Chad Harvey that held him scoreless the first quarter to take a 12-7 lead.
David Crossan scored four points and Payton Blair three to account for the Flyers’ points.
But St. Joseph got its defense and offense rolling together in the second quarter. Caleb Blackburn scored nine points and Harvey had six as the Flyers exploded for 24 points and took a 31-23 halftime lead.
Harvey scored seven points in the third quarter as the Flyers began to extend their lead before the Rebels started to rally.
St. Joseph (6-15) still led 48-44 after three quarters only to have Duncan score five points and Vince Fellure four to tie the game at 56-56.
“We got a pretty good stop and got it to overtime, but we had a turnover in an offensive set and they got the lead and then it was a foul shooting contest,” said Sheridan.
The Rebels were 7-of-8 at the line with Duncan making 5-of-6 nad Caleb McClannahan 2-of-2.
Blackburn and Harvey combined for all 10 of the Flyers’ points in the overtime.
Harvey finished with 23 points, five rebounds and three steals. Blackburn added 16 points and 11 rebounds while Blair scored 10 points and had six assists.
Duncan scored 32 points and Fellure 13 for the Rebels.
South Gallia1211211214=70
St. Joseph72417810=66
SOUTH GALLIA (7-14): Johnathan Wells 0 0 3-6 3, Cory Small 0 0 0-0 0, Micah Cardwell 1 3 0-0 11, Caleb McClannahan 2 0 2-2 6, Tyler Duncan 8 3 7-8 32, Vince Fellure 6 0 1-2 13, Justin Shelton 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 26-55 13-18 70. 3-point goals: 6-16. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Fellure. Rebounds: 28. Assists: 9. Steals: 11. Turnovers: 6.
ST. JOSEPH (6-15): Chad Harvey 8 2 1-2 23, Payton Blair 2 2 0-0 10, David Crossan 3 0 2-2 8, Joey Basedow 2 0 2-3 6, Pat Gagai 0 1 0-0 3, Alex Brown 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Blackburn 5 0 6-8 16. Totals: 25-52 11-15 66. 3-point goals: 5-15. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 29 (Blackburn 11, Harvey 5, Crossan 6). Assists: 15 (Blair 6, Crossan 3). Steals: 8 (Harvey 3, Crossan 2). Turnovers: 15.