Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

ROCKSPRINGS — In this case, it mattered how you started AND how you finished.

The Waterford Wildcats had big first and fourth quarters as they held on to beat the St. Joseph Flyers 52-47 on Tuesday in the Division IV sectional championship game.

The Wildcats scored 17 points each in the first and fourth quarters. Conversely, the Flyers scored 16 total points in the two quarters.

Waterford jumped out to a 9-1 lead to start the game and led 17-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Troy Scott scored six straight points to ignite the Flyers’ offense as they went on an 11-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 23-22 with 1:35 left in the half.

Andrew Thieman then scored to put Waterford back on top 24-23 at the break.

St. Joseph scored eight unanswered points in the third quarter to go up 31-28 and then Zack Kelly and Kyle Williams drained 3-balls.

But Jordan Welch scored seven points in the quarter for the Wildcats including a layup at the buzzer off a pass from Isaac Huffman and Waterford cut the deficit to 37-35.

Huffman scored three points to begin the fourth quarter and give Waterford the lead.

Kelly buried another trifecta as St. Joseph got the lead back at 40-38. But Waterford took the lead for good on a layup by Joe Pugh and a steal and a steal by Trystan Crawford that turned into a layup and one to make it 43-40.

Strong foul shooting by Jordan Welch who converted 8-of-8 at the line prevented a Flyers’ comeback and sent the Wildcats to the district tournament.

The Wildcats were 19-of-30 from the foul line for the game while the Flyers made just 3-of-8 free throws.

Scott had 15 points and four assists to lead the Flyers (11-12). Wulf Goheen and Kelly — who hit three 3-pointers — each had nine points. Chris Lewis added four rebounds and three steals.

Welch scored 15 points to lead Waterford (12-10). Taner Pottmeyer added 10 points.

The game was the final contest for St. Joseph seniors Trey Young, Ben McDonald, Goheen, Scott, Lewis, Williams and Kelly.

St. Joseph 6 17 14 10 = 47

Waterford 17 7 11 17 = 52

ST. JOSEPH (11-12): Zac McGraw 1 0 0-0 2, Troy Scott 5 1 2-6 15, Chris Lewis 1 0 0-0 2, Kyle Williams 1 1 0-0 5, Wulf Goheen 3 1 0-0 9, Trey Young 1 0 0-0 2, Zack Kelly 0 3 0-0 9, Tyler Ward 0 0 1-2 1, Clay Willis 0 0 0-0 0, Ben McDonald 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 19-47 3-8 47. 3-point goals: 6-22. Rebounds: 19 (Lewis 4). Assists: 7 (Scott 4). Steals: 10 (Lewis 3). Blocked shots: 3. Turnovers: 18.

WATERFORD (12-10): Joe Pugh 1 0 1-2 3, Trystan Crawford 1 0 3-5 5, Isaac Huffman 1 0 2-4 4, Cody Paxton 2 0 0-0 4, Taner Pottmeyer 4 0 2-4 10, Jordan Welch 2 1 8-10 15, Montana Brooker 0 0 0-0 0, Andrew Thieman 3 0 1-2 7,Mitch Ginther 1 0 2-3 4, Tyler McCutcheon 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-37 19-30 52. 3-point goals: 1-3. Rebounds: 25 (Crawford 5, Brooker 5). Assists: 8 (Paxton 3). Steals: 11 (Paxton 4). Blocked shots: 3. Turnovers: 3.