Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

FLATWOODS, Ky. — Call the Lawrence County Bass Club. Have we got a story for you.

The Russell Lady Red Devils overcame a 15-point deficit as they managed to escape with a 67-57 overtime win over the St. Joseph Female Flyers on Wednesday.

“We let that one get away,” said Female Flyers’ coach Nick Miller.

“We played well handling their pressure. At the end our shots wouldn’t fall and their shots started to fall. Give Russell credit. They’re good and they didn’t quit.”

A lot of St. Joseph’s turnovers came in Russell’s fourth quarter comeback when point guard Hannah Miller was whistled early for her fourth foul.

“The game totally turned in the fourth quarter when Hannah went out,” said coach Miller. “But we had opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on.”

The biggest missed opportunities were at the foul line. The Female Flyers were only 10-of-19 from the line including 7-of-13 in the fourth quarter.

Russell (15-8) capitalized on its free throw chances. The Lady Devils were a sizzling 17-of-19 for the game including 9-of-9 in the fourth quarter and 4-of-5 in overtime.

Miller scored 7 points in the first quarter to offset 7 points by Russell’s Maggie Jachimczuk as St. Joseph led 13-12.

Lynsey Booker scored 8 points and Miller drained a pair of 3-balls in the second quarter as the Female Flyers pulled away to a 33-22 halftime lead.

St. Joseph extended the lead to 45-30 at the end of the third quarter as Amber Neal scored 6 points and Miller 4 while the defense held Russell to 8 points.

But then came the pivotal fourth quarter.

Jachimczuk scored 10 points and Shelby Huddleston had 9 points to fuel Russell’s comeback. Booker provided most of St. Joseph’s offense as she connected on 7-of-10 free throws.

Miller hit a 3-pointer to start the overtime for a 57-54 lead, but the Female Flyers didn’t score again.

Russell led 60-57 when Rachel Michael hit a 3-pointer — her only basket of the game — to open up a 63-57 lead and the Lady Devils made some late free throws to set the final score.

Miller had 22 points and seven rebounds while Booker finished with 19 points to lead St. Joseph. Neal added 11 points and Bri Bridges grabbed six rebounds.

Jackimczuk had 28 points and Huddleston 22 for Russell. Madison Darnell added 12 points.

St. Joseph plays Greenup County at 2:45 p.m. Saturday in the Tackett’s Body Shop Shootout at Ironton.

St. Joseph 13 20 12 9 3 = 57

Russell 12 10 8 24 13 = 67

ST. JOSEPH (13-5): Katie Roach 0 0 0-1 0, Amber Neal 1 2 3-6 11, Rachel Martin 0 0 0-0 0, Hannah Miller 5 4 0-0 22, Haley Bartram 0 1 0-1 3, Bri Bridges 1 0 0-1 2, Lynsey Booker 6 0 7-10 19. Totals: 20-60 10-19 57. 3-point goals: 7-24. Rebounds: 5-off. 19-def. = 24 (H. Miller 7, Bridges 6). Assists: 3. Steals: 5 (Neal 2). Turnovers: 18. Blocked shots: 2 (Miller 2). Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

RUSSELL (15-8): Ty Mitchell 1 0 0-0 2, Madison Darnell 0 3 0 3-4 12, Shelby Huddleston 7 0 8-8 22, Rachel Michael 0 1 0-0 3, Watkins 0 0 0-0 0, Maggie Jachimczuk 11 0 6-7 28. Totals: 19 4 17-19 67. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Mitchell.