By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

Some things never change.

When the St. Joseph Flyers and Rock Hill Redmen get together, expect a game that goes down to the final seconds.

The two teams played to the wire again on Saturday as the Flyers edged the Redmen 42-39.

Rock Hill had a chance to tie the game but Trey Wilds just missed a long 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

“With Rock Hill it always seems to go down to the end,” said Flyers’ coach Jeremy Williams.

Eli Lewis had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocked shots to lead the Flyers (3-2). Justin Mahlmeister had 11 points and 10 rebounds while Ike Palmer added 10 points and 4 assists.

Rock Hill (3-3) was paced by Andy Knipp with 18 points — 16 in the second half — along with 7 rebounds and a blocked shot. Wilds had 4 assists and 2 steals.

Will McCollister suffered a pulled muscle in warm-ups and did not play for the Redmen.

The Flyers led 10-5 at the end of the first quarter. Lewis and Mahlmeister combined for all 14 points in the second quarter to put the lead at 24-17 at the half. Drew Kidd scored 4 points for the Redmen.

Knipp scored 8 points in each of the final two quarters, but Palmer had 5 points in the third quarter and Lewis had 4 in the fourth.

The key for St. Joseph was 16 of 28 shooting from the field for 57 percent.

“We tried to get it out and push it but Rock Hill did a good job of getting back,” said Williams. “When we ran our half-court sets we got good shots and we were patient.”

Rock Hill hosts Wellston on Tuesday while St. Joseph plays Sciotoville East at 2 p.m. on Thursday in the Ironton Classic.

Rock Hill 5 12 11 11 = 39

St. Joseph 10 14 9 9 = 42

ROCK HILL (3-3): Drew Kidd 2 1 0-1 7, Evan Morris 1 1 0-0 5, Joe Stidham 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Collins 1 0 0-0 2, Trey Wilds 2 0 0-0 4, Jared Bruce 0 0 0-2 0, Laden Delawder 0 1 0-0 3, Andy Knipp 8 0 2-3 18. Totals: 17-36 2-6 39. 3-point goals: 3-11. Rebounds: 19 (Knipp 7). Assists: 4 (Wilds 4). Steals: 3 (Wilds 2). Blocked shots: 1 (Knipp). Turnovers: 5. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

ST. JOSEPH (3-2): Grant Geswein 1 0 0-0 2, Ike Palmer 1 1 5-8 10, Joseph Payton 8 0 0-5 16, Justin Mahlmeister 2 2 1-2 11, Zack Dalton 0 0 0-0 0, Troy Scott 0 0 0-0 0, Lane Johnson 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 16-28 7-17 42. 3-point goals: 3-8. Rebounds: 25 (Mahlmeister 10, Lewis 10). Assists: 7 (Palmer 4). Steals: 3. Turnovers: 5. Blocked shots: 3 (Lewis 2). Fouls: 10. Fouled out None.