Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — St. Joseph Flyers’ coach Chris Barnes had a simple game plan message: keep them off the boards.
And in order to do that, the Flyers needed to use basic rebounding fundamentals which they did in a 67-47 win over the Symmes Valley Vikings on Tuesday.
“We had to keep them off the boards and we had to screen them out and we did an awesome job of that,” said Barnes.
“J.C. (Damron) is playing unbelievable. He’s so long and active. He gets his hands on so many balls and he’s relentless on the glass.”
Ryan Payne scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Flyers (2-0) while Damron had 18 points and Zach Roach 16. Jimmy Mahlmeister added eight points and Isaac Whaley scored five.
Jack Leith and Luke Leith led the Vikings with 13 points each. Drew Scherer had 12 points.
Payne hit three trifectas in the first quarter while Roach scored seven points including a triple of his own as the Flyers jumped in front 16-8.
Jack Leith had five for the Vikings (0-2).
Five different players scored in the second quarter for the Flyers with Damron getting eight points including 4-of-4 at the line. Jack Leith had six for Symmes Valley and it was 33-19 at the midway point.
The Vikings kept sending the Flyers to the foul line in the third quarter and St. Joseph took advantage of the opportunities by converting 12-of-16. Mahlmeister, Damron and Roach had five points each in the quarter.
Luke Leith scored eight for the Vikings.
Payne drained his fifth 3-pointer and scored seven points in the fourth quarter and Damron added five more as the Flyers added to their lead.
Luke Leith and Scherer combined for nine points in the quarter.
Symmes Valley visits New Boston on Friday. St. Joseph goes to Green on Saturday.
St. Joseph 16 17 18 16 = 67
Sym. Valley 8 11 14 14 = 47
ST. JOSEPH (2-0): Isaac Whaley 2 0 1-2 5, Zack Roach 2 1 9-10 16, Ryan Payne 2 5 1-2 20, J.C. Damron 4 0 10-12 18, Jimmy Mahlmeister 2 0 4-7 8, Jackson Rowe 0 0 0-0 0, Matt Sheridan 0 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 6 25-33 67. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (0-2): Luke Leith 6 0 1-2 13, Justin White 0 0 0-0 0, Jack Leith 6 0 1-2 13, Caden Brammer 1 0 0-0 2, Drew Scherer 5 0 2-3 12, Alec Carpenter 0 0 1-2 1, Josh Ferguson 0 0 0-0 0, Trenton Turner 0 1 0-0 3, Toby Smathers 1 0 1-2 3. Totals: 19 1 6-11 47. Fouls: 25. Fouled out: L. Leith.