Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

NEW BOSTON — A couple of spark plugs gave the St. Joseph Female Flyers the start they needed.

Amber Neal and Hannah Miller scored 17 points each as the Female Flyers opened the season with a 49-34 win over the New Boston Lady Tigers Saturday.

“It was nice to start playing and it was nice to get off to a good start,” said St. Joseph coach Nick Miller. “Amber had a really nice game.”

Neal — who hit 5-of-8 from 3-point range — also had nine rebounds, five assists and four steals. Miller also had five assists and four steals to go with six rebounds.

Miller hit three treys for nine points and Lynsey Booker added 4 points in the first quarter as St. Joseph led 16-7.

Neal hit a pair of 3-pointers and Miller had 4 more points as St. Joseph opened up a 29-12 lead. New Boston closed the half with a 6-0 run and it was 29-18 at the break.

Neal came out and scored 8 points with a pair of triples in the third quarter and the Female Flyers built a 45-24 lead.

St. Joseph emptied its bench in the fourth quarter.

St. Joseph 16 13 16 4 = 49

New Boston 7 11 6 10 = 34

ST. JOSEPH (1-0): Katie Roach 1 0 0-0 2, Jennna Rawlins 0 0 0-0 0, Amber Neal 1 5 0-0 17, Brea Eastham 0 0 0-0 0, Erin Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0, Megan Riley 0 0 0-0 0, Ashlee Blankenship 0 0 0-0 0, Rachel Martin 0 0 0-0 0, Hannah Miller 4 3 0-2 17, Sarah Haley Bartram 0 0 0-2 0, Bri Bridges 2 0 0-0 4, Molly Miller 0 0 0-0 0, Lynsey Booker 3 0 3-6 9. Totals: 19-63 3-10 49. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 8-18. Rebounds: 12-28=40 (Neal 9, H. Miller 6). Assists: 13 (Neal 5, H. Miller 5). Steals: 16 (Neal 4, H. Miller 4). Blocked shots: 1. Turnovers: 19.

NEW BOSTON (0-1): Eden Howard 1 0 0-0 2, Courtney Meghan 1 0 0-0 2, Erin Johnson 2 0 0-0 4, Emily Waugh 3 0 2-4 8, Kaitlyn Dannon 1 0 0-0 2, Dakota Zath 0 0 0-0 0 0-0 0, Ciji Thompson 0 0 0-0 0, Kierstan McGraw 6 0 4-6 16. Totals: 14 0 6-10 34. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.