Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

St. Joseph coach Jeremy Williams wanted two things from his team. He got neither and as a result all he and his team got was a loss.

The Flyers were guilty of 19 turnovers including 11 in the second half as they lost 53-43 to the Portsmouth West Senators in the tip-off game of the annual Ironton Classic.

“The two things going into the game we talked about as the keys were taking care of the ball and execution on offense,” said Williams. “We had 19 turnovers and many were unforced, and we missed at least a dozen layups.”

Eli Lewis had 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocked shots to lead the Flyers (2-4). Troy Scott had 10 points and 6 rebounds.

Portsmouth West (4-3) was led by Michael Hafer with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Zach Bolton scored 12 and J.B. Travis 10.

St. Joseph took a 12-11 lead at the 1:12 mark on a 3-point play by Joseph Payton. Bolton hit a 3-point with 27 seconds left in the quarter as West regained the lead at 14-12.

Bolton’s 10-footer put West up 21-16 in the second quarter but the Flyers rallied to tie the game on a 5-footer by Lewis and a put-back by Scott with 1:16 left in the half.

Michael Davis connected on a 3-pointer with 32 seconds on the clock put the Senators ahead 26-23 at the half.

The Flyers played almost the entire second quarter without Mahlmeister — their leading scorer — who was knocked down at the start of the quarter and left with a hip injury.

Mahlmeister returned in the second half and his layup cut the deficit to 26-25 and his two free throws at the 1:14 mark gave the Flyers their first lead since the first quarter at 37-35.

A trey by Zach Frye with a minute left in the quarter put West up for good at 38-37.

Hafer hit back-to-back baskets to begin the fourth quarter as the Senators opened up a 42-37 lead.

“It hurt losing Justin in the second quarter and Troy in the fourth quarter, but Portsmouth West played hard and they hit the shots when they needed,” said Williams.

“We would get within one and they would hit a three. You have to give them credit.”

The Flyers (2-4) got within 47-43 on two foul shots by Grant Geswein with 2:50 left, but Travis went 4-for-4 at the foul line over the final 38 seconds to give West a 51-43 lead and seal the win.

Ports. West 14 12 12 15 = 53

St. Joseph 12 11 14 6 = 43

PORTSMOUTH WEST (4-3): Michael Davis 1 1 0-0 5, Zach Frye 2 1 0-0 7, Zach Bolton 3 2 0-0 12, Michael Hafer 7 0 0-1 14, J.B. Travis 0 2 4-4 10, Christian Martin 0 1 2-2 5, Steven Irwin 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Bricker 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-50 6-7 53. 3-point goals: 7-18. Rebounds: 9-24=33 (Hafer 13, Travis 8). Team rebounds: 3. Assists: 8 (Travis 3, Martin 2). Steals: 12 (Travis 6, Davis 3). Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: None. Blocked shots: 1 (Hafer).

ST. JOSEPH (2-4): Grant Geswein 1 0 2-2 4, Troy Scott 2 0 6-9 10, Eli Lewis 7 0 0-3 14, Joseph Payton 1 0 1-1 3, Justin Mahlmeister 2 1 2-4 9, Hunter Pemberton 0 1 0-1 3, Kyle Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Chris Lewis 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-39 11-20 43. 3-point goals: 2-9. Rebounds: 6-25=31 (E. Lewis 8, Scott 6, Mahlmeister 5). Assists: 7 (Pemberton 2). Steals: 11 (Scott 4, Payton 3). Turnovers: 19. Steals: 13. Fouled out: None. Blocked shots: 7 (E. Lewis 4, Scott 2, Mahlmeister).