Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

ASHLAND, Ky. — This was a case of sitting and standing up for the St. Joseph Lady Flyers.
The Lady Flyers “sat down” on defense but rose up to rebound as they slipped past the Rose Hill Christian Lady Royals 32-29 on Thursday.
St. Joseph (5-6) had 35 rebounds with Bella Whaley cleaning the glass for 13. Chloe Sheridan pulled down six, Faith Mahlmeister five and both Kaitlyn Sheridan and Laiken Unger four each.
“We sat down and played defense and then we did what I like best and that’s rebounded. For a road game, that was pretty good,” said Lady Flyers’ coach Bart Burcham.
Another thing that did impressed Burcham was how his team reacted to the close outcome.
“All young kids getting comfortable. That’s the first real tight game we’ve played and didn’t panic. We handled the ball, and our passes are getting better,” said Burcham.
Emma Whaley had 12 points and Bella Whaley 11 to lead the Lady Flyers scoring.
Rose Hill (4-6) was paced by Bellamee Sparks with nine points.
Emma Whaley and Bella Whaley combine for all the Lady Flyers’ points in the first quarter and it was 6-6.
St. Joseph took a 17-11 halftime lead as Bella Whaley had six points.
Emma Whaley was 4-of-5 at the foul line and scored six points in the third quarter to offset four points by the Lady Royals’ Baylee Trimble.
Sparks got six points in the fourth quarter but Emma Whaley was 2-of-2 at the foul line and Sheridan 1-of-2 to preserve the win.
St. Joseph visits Symmes Valley on Monday.
St. Joseph 6 11 7 8 = 32
Rose Hill 6 5 9 9 = 29
ST. JOSEPH (5-6): Faith Mahlmeister 2 0 0-0 4, Bella Whaley 4 0 3-6 11, Emma Whaley 3 0 6-7 12, Emilee Blankenship 0 0 0-0 0, Laiken Unger 0 0 0-2 0, Kaitlyn Sheridan 1 0 1-2 3, Chloe Sheridan 0 0 2-4 2, Lydia Sheridan 0 0 0-0 0, Kerri Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 0 12-21 32. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.
ROSE HILL CHRISTIAN (4-6): Shelby Nibert 0 0 0-0 0, Ashleigh Riffe 2 0 0-0 4, Delaynee Sparks 2 0 2-8 6, Baylee Trimble 3 0 0-0 6, Bellamee Sparks 4 0 1-2 9, Jewelia VanKeuren 1 0 0-0 2, Jana Murphy 0 0 2-2 2, Hannah Brewer 0 0 0-0 0, Isabel Hensley 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 0 5-12 29. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.