Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Not even the best magician can conceal his tricks all the time.

Adjusting to an usual defense, the St. Joseph Female Flyers staged a strong fourth quarter and beat the Greenup County Lady Musketeers 52-43 on Saturday in the Tackett’s Body Shop Shootout at Ironton High School.

Greenup focused its attention on St. Joseph senior point guard and leading scorer Hannah Miller. But once the Female Flyers figured out their trick defense, they treated themselves to their 14th win in 19 games.

“Greenup went to a gimmick defense and we were a little confused at first,” said Female Flyers’ coach Nick Miller.

“But we talked it over and got everybody on the same page and then we started getting open looks and hitting our shots in the fourth quarter.”

Amber Neal had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Female Flyers and was named her team’s game MVP. Miller had 15 points and four assists while Lynsey Booker got 16 points and seven rebounds.

Bri Bridges also had eight rebounds for the Female Flyers.

Micah Leslie hit six 3-pointers and had a game-high 26 points for Greenup (9-13). Kate Campbell added 11 points.

St. Joseph took a 17-13 first quarter lead as Miller scored 8 points. Neal and Miller had a pair of 3-pointers each. Leslie had all 13 points for the Musketeers.

Miller eclipsed the 1,500-career point total with a free throw in the first quarter.

Miller scored 5 points in the second quarter but Greenup inched closer to get within 26-23 at the half.

Leslie hit a pair of 3-pointers and Campbell had 5 points in the third quarter to put Greenup ahead, but Booker — who scored 7 points in the quarter — hit a long 3-pointer at the buzzer that gave St. Joseph a 35-34 lead.

“That shot by Booker was a momentum changer for us. We struggled scoring in the second and third quarters,” said coach Miller.

“Defensively, we held them down in the fourth quarter. Bri Bridges did a great job on (Haley) Valandingham.”

Neal scored 7 points and Booker had 6 as the Female Flyers outscored Greenup 17-9 in the fourth quarter.

St. Joseph hosts Raceland, Ky., on Monday.

Greenup Co. 13 10 11 9 = 43

St. Joseph 17 9 9 17 = 52

GREENUP COUNTY (9-13): Grace Haywood 0 0 0-0 0, Micah Leslie 3 6 2-4 26, Kate Campbell 1 3 0-0 11, Jordan Moore 0 0 0-2 0, Haliegh Adams 1 0 0-0 2, Haley Vanlandingham 2 0 0-1 4. Totals: 16-51 2-7 43. 3-point goals: 9-26. Rebounds: 9-off. 12-def. = 21 (Moore 5). Team rebounds: 3. Assists: 8 (Valandingham 3). Steals: 7 (Haywood 4). Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

ST. JOSEPH (14-5): Katie Roach 0 0 0-0 0, Amber Neal 1 3 2-4 13, Alyson Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Rachel Neal 1 0 0-0 2, Hannah Miller 2 3 2-2 15, Haley Bartram 0 0 00 0, Bri Bridges 3 0 0-1 6, Lynsey Booker 3 1 7-8 16. Totals: 17-43 11-15 52. 3-point goals: 7-17. Rebounds: 14-off. 27-def. = 41 (Bridges 8,Neal 8, Booker 7). Team rebounds: 5. Assists: 8 (Miller 4, Neal 2). Steals: 4 (Bridges 2). Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None.