Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

BIDWELL — Going back-to-back was a back breaker for the St. Joseph Flyers.
After a physical game on Tuesday when they beat Wellston, the Flyers couldn’t overcome cold shooting and the physical play of River Valley as they lost 55-46 to the Raiders on Wednesday.
The Flyers (12-6) were a dismal 6-of-25 from behind the 3-point arc in a rare poor shooting performance from long-range distance.
“We didn’t have it tonight. Playing back-to-back games against two physical teams with our young players is tough,” said Flyers’ coach Chris Barnes.
“We battled and had it to one with a couple of minutes left, but it was just not our type of game. We have to shoot well and we did not make our shots. But give them credit. They wanted this game. They played hard.”
Zach Roach was the lone bright spot in the Flyers’ offense as he hit five 3-pointers and scored a game-high 26 points. J.C. Damron added eight points.
Jordan Lambert scored 22 points and Brandon Call 11 for River Valley (3-16).
The Raiders were up 17-14 after the first quarter as Lambert scored nine points and both Layne Fitch and Rory Twyman hit 3-pointers.
Roach and Isaac Whaley each hit 3-pointers and scored five points for the Flyers while Damron had four.
Call and Lambert scored four points each as River Valley took a 27-23 lead at the break. Roach hit another trifecta and scored seven points while Matt Sheridan had the only other basket in the quarter for the Flyers.
River Valley pulled away to a 40-33 lead in the third quarter as six different players scored. Roach drained three trifectas and had all 10 of St. Joseph’s points.
Lambert had seven points and the Raiders were 7-of-10 from the foul line in the fourth quarter.
Roach was 4-for-4 at the line in the quarter and Damron added two baskets.
The Flyers host Ohio Valley Christian on Friday for senior night. The girls play at 6 p.m.
St. Joseph 14 9 10 13 = 46
River Valley 17 10 13 15 = 55
ST. JOSEPH (12-6): Isaac Whaley 1 1 0-0 5, Zach Roach 3 5 5-7 26, Jimmy Mahlmeister 0 0 2-2 2, Max Weber 0 0 0-0 0, J.C. Damron 4 0 0-0 8, Matt Sheridan 2 0 1-2 5, Jared Johnson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 6 8-11 46. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.
RIVER VALLEY (3-16): Layne Fitch 0 2 2-2 8, Rory Twyman 1 1 3-6 8, Myles Morrison 0 1 0-0 3, Brandon Call 4 0 3-5 11, Chase Caldwell 1 0 1-2 3, Jordan Lambert 9 0 4-5 22. Totals: 15 4 13-20 55. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.