Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

This was a different kind of lost and found.

Despite a shooting performance that screams “we lost,” the St. Joseph Flyers fought through their poor shooting to battle past the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 46-39 on Wednesday.

The Flyers were just 12 of 57 from the field for 21 percent including 6 of 26 from the 3-point line for 23 percent.

“Early in the year we would have lost this game, but we found a way to win,” said Flyers’ coach Jeremy Williams.

“We didn’t shoot very well and Notre Dame is a well-coached team and they always play so tough defensively. But we’ve grown a lot since the beginning of the year.”

The Flyers (8-8) held a five-point lead in the fourth quarter when the Titans went on a 6-0 run to take a 36-35 lead.

But Zack Kelly drained a 3-ball to give the Flyers a 38-36 lead. St. Joseph got a stop and Kyle Williams was fouled and made two free throws. Williams also had a key steal down the stretch.

The Flyers were 12 of 15 from the foul line in the fourth quarter when the Titans were forced to foul. Williams was 4 of 4 and Wulf Goheen 4 of 5 at the line.

“Williams made some big plays, Chris (Lewis) rebounded well, Troy (Scott) was still sick and he gutted it out, and Wulf did a nice job on (Kevin) Turner. Everyone contributed,” said coach Williams.

Scott scored 16 points to lead the Flyers. Williams and Kelly added 10 each

Lewis grabbed 10 rebounds and had three blocked shots. Goheen grabbed seven rebounds, Williams also had three assists and four steals, Kelly had three assists, and Tyler Ward recorded three steals.

C.J. Smith had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Titans (9-7). Hattachai Buttayotee added 13 points and nine rebounds.

Scott, Williams and Kelly all hit 3-pointers as St. Joseph took a 9-4 first quarter lead.

Smith scored 8 points in the second quarter as the Titans rallied to take a 19-15 lead at the half.

Scott’s 5 points in the third quarter enabled the Flyers to tie the game at 27. Smith had 6 of the Titans’ 8 points in the quarter.

Goheen scored all 6 of his points in the fourth quarter to offset 7 points by Buttayotee.

St. Joseph goes to Racine Southern on Saturday.

Notre Dame 4 15 8 12 = 39

St. Joseph 9 6 12 19 = 46

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (9-7): Isaiah Johnson 2 1 2-3 9, Kevin Turner 0 0 0-0 0, Hayden Phillips 0 0 0-0 0, Tyson Montgomery 0 0 0-0 0, Hattachai Buttayotee 4 0 5-8 13, Andy Bazler 1 0 1-2 3, C.J. Smith 6 0 2-3 14, Evan Coriell 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-50 10-16 39. 3-point goals: 1-11. Rebounds: 35 (Buttayotee 9, Smith 8). Assists: 5 (Johnson 3). Steals: 5 (Buttayotee 4). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None.

ST. JOSEPH (8-8): Wulf Gohen 1 0 4-5 6, Kyle Williams 0 2 4-4 10, Chris Lewis 0 0 2-4 2, Troy Scott 4 1 5-7 16, Zack Kelly 0 3 1-3 10, Tyler Ward 1 0 0-0 2, Trey Young 0 0 0-0 0, Ben McDonald 0 0 0-0 0, Tre Neal 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-57 16-23 46. 3-point goals: 6-26. Rebounds: 30 (Lewis 10, Goheen 7). Assists: 7 (Williams 3, Kelly 3). Steals: 14 (Williams 4, Ward 3). Turnovers: 9. Blocked shots: 5 (Lewis 3). Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.