Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — The St. Joseph Female Flyers faced a tall order, but they were able to deliver.

The Female Flyers had the task of stopping Charleston Catholic’s 6-foot-1 Catherine Bandak and 5-11 Vida Imani.

St. Joseph overcame the size advantage to post a 46-36 win over the Irish on Saturday in the Coal Grove River Battle.

“We made some adjustments after the first quarter and we played pretty good defense on them. Their two big girls were pretty good, but we were able to slow them some and keep the other players from hurting us,” said St. Joseph coach Nick Miller.

Hannah Miller scored 17 points and Amber Neal 15 as the Female Flyers stay unbeaten in five games.

Bandak scored 20 points and Imani 14 as only one other player scored for the Irish (1-3).

Neal hit a pair of 3-pointers to open the game but Bandak had 9 points as the Irish took a 13-12 lead.

St. Joseph came back to take a 24-18 halftime lead as Miller hit a pair of treys and scored 8 points. Imani had all of Charleston Catholic’s points.

In third quarter, Neal and Miller each hit triples but Bandek scored 8 points as the Irish took a 29-28 lead.

Neal and Miller had 3-pointers to account for the St. Joseph scoring in the quarter.

But Lynsey Booker hit a key 3-pointer and the Female Flyers were 10 of 13 form the foul line including Neal who was 4 of 5.

St. Joseph plays at 6 p.m. Friday at Fairview, Ky., as part of a doubleheader with the boys’ team.

Chrls. Catholic 13 5 11 7 = 36

St. Joseph 12 12 6 16 = 46

CHARLESTON CATHOLIC (1-3): Darian Ball 0 0 0-0 0, Peyton Mullen 0 0 0-0 0, Caroline Dundervill 0 0 0-0 0, Maddie Blaydes 1 0 0-0 2, Catherine Bandak 8 0 4-5 20, Vida Imani 4 2 0-0 14, Sophia Bumgardner 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 2 4-5 36. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.

ST. JOSEPH (5-0): Katie Roach 0 0 0-0 0, Amber Neal 1 3 4-5 15, Lynsey Booker 0 1 5-6 8, Rachel Martin 0 0 0-0 0, Hannah Miller 2 4 1-2 17, Haley Bartram 0 0 0-0 0, Bri Bridges 2 0 2-3 6. Totals: 5 8 12-16 46. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.