By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PORTSMOUTH — When the bombs started falling, the St. Joseph Flyers finally figured out a way to defuse them.

Portsmouth Clay hit 10 3-point goals but the Flyers withstood the Panthers’ second half comeback as they picked up a 60-58 win on Tuesday.

Justin Mahlmeister had 20 points to lead the Flyers (2-2). Eli Lewis scored 15 and Ike Palmer had a career-high 14 points while Troy Scott added 9.

Chandler King had 18 points with four triples and Chase Hiles scored 17 with five 3-pointers. Levi Evans added 10 points and the other 3-pointer.

St. Joseph led 21-7 at the end of the first quarter and 33-15 at the half.

Clay (1-3) outscored the Flyers 22-13 in the third quarter to get within 46-37 and then 21-14 in the fourth quarter but the Flyers were able to hang on.

The Flyers host Rock Hill on Saturday.

St. Joseph 21 12 13 14 = 60

Ports. Clay 7 8 22 21 = 58

ST. JOSEPH (2-2): Ike Palmer 5 0 4 14, Joseph Payton 0 0 1 1, Zack Dalton 0 0 0 0, Eli Lewis 6 0 3 15, Luke McGraw 0 1 0 3, Justin Mahlmeister 3 2 8 20, Troy Scott 4 0 1 9, Lane Johnson 1 0 0 2. Totals: 19 3 17 60.

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (1-3): Chase Hiles 0 5 2 17, Chandler King 1 4 4 18, Tony Whitt 1 0 2 4, Levi Evans 1 1 5 10, Michael Schmidt 4 0 1 9. Totals: 7 10 14 58.