By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

Offense can come and go, but defense is something that can be controlled.

St. Joseph used defense to control the New Boston Lady Tigers’ offense as the Female Flyers held on for a 31-28 win on Monday.

“Neither team shot well, but I thought both teams played pretty good defense,” said St. Joseph coach Nick Miller.

“It was a very physical game and we battled them. They hit a couple of 3’s early and we switched defenses and shut them down.”

While the defense was shutting down New Boston, Hannah Miller provided the offense as she scored 19 points to go along with 6 rebounds and 3 steals.

Sarah Neal grabbed 10 rebounds and Amber Neal had 6 rebounds and 2 assists for the Female Flyers (7-9).

Kierstan McGraw scored 21 for New Boston (8-8).

Hannah Miller scored all 10 St. Joseph points in the first quarter and the game was tied. The Female Flyers then took an 18-16 halftime lead.

McGraw scored 6 points in the third quarter and the game was tie 24-24. But Miller scored 5 points in the fourth quarter and Haley Bartram blocked a potential game-tying 3-pointer just before the buzzer to preserve the win.

The Female Flyers host Rose Hill on Thursday. A two-quarter jayvee game starts at 6 p.m.

New Boston 10 6 8 4 = 28

St. Joseph 10 8 6 7 = 31

NEW BOSTON (8-8): Toni Veach 1 0 0-0 2, Shawna Buckley 1 1 2-2 7, Miranda Litz 0 1 0-0 3, Emily Waugh 1 0 0-0 2, Danielle Yantis 1 0 0-0 2, Kierstan McGraw 6 0 0-0 12, Erin Johnson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 2 2-2 28. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

SAINT JOSPEH (7-9): Meg Alexander 1 0 0-0 2, Katie Roach 0 0 0-1 0, Amber Neal 0 0 0-0 0, Sarah Neal 1 0 0-0 2, Becca Patrick 1 0 22 4, Hannah Miller 8 0 3-5 19, Haley Bartram 2 0 0-0 4, Molly Miller 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13-55 5-8 31. 3-point goals: 0-2. Rebounds: 13-17=30 (S. Neal 10, A. Neal 6, H. Miller 6). Assists: 2 (A. Neal 2). Steals: 6 (H. Miller 3). Blocked shots: 2 (H. Miller, Bartram). Fouls: 6. Fouled out: None.