Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Just as the weather started to turn cold again, so did the St. Joseph Lady Flyers.
But after a slow start, the Lady Flyers heated up and beat the Ohio Valley Christian Lady Defenders 58-26 on senior night Friday.
“It took a little bit to get going and we had some shots that rimmed out. But once we got going, we started playing better,” said Flyers’ coach Bart Burcham.
Faith Mahlmeister had 16 points and eight rebounds, Emma Whaley scored 12 points, Bella Whaley added 10 points and five rebounds and Kaitlyn Sheridan had nine points to lead the Lady Flyers.
Leticia Araiyo had 11 points to pace OVC.
The Lady Flyers finished the regular season 11-11. Burcham said he is proud of the team’s effort and how they have continued to improve every day.
“If you had told me after the first game of the season at West or the scrimmage at West Carter until now that we’d have 11 wins, I wouldn’t know what to think. It’s like they are two totally different teams,” said Burcham.
“They’re all playing their roles well. A good example is Emilee Blankenship. She’s the only player who started every game and she doesn’t have to put up flashy numbers. She just does her job.”
Sheridan hit a trifecta and scored five points and Mahlmeister four points as St. Joseph took a 13-7 first quarter lead.
The Lady Flyers began to get their engine running in the second quarter as they pulled away to a 30-12 halftime lead.
Bella Whaley had six points and Emma Whaley and Mahlmeister four each. Chloe Sheridan scored three.
The lead ballooned to 48-17 after three quarters as Mahlmeister scored eight points in the third quarter.
The Lady Flyers outscored OVC 10-9 in the fourth quarter with Emma Whaley and Chloe Sheridan getting four points each and Kerri Jenkins scored two.
Although the team’s only senior Lauren Bush was unable to play this season due to a knee injury, she was in the starting lineup and scored the team’s first basket before leaving the game.
“Usually when a kid is a senior and this happens they shut down. But she’s been at every practice. Everything she’s done has been positive. I was glad to see her get the opportunity to score. She’s earned it,” said Burcham.
St. Joseph plays South Gallia at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in the sectional tournament at Meigs High School.
Ohio Valley 7 5 5 9 = 26
St. Joseph 13 17 18 10 = 58
OHIO VALLEY CHRISTIAN (NA): Emily Childers 2 0 1-2 5, Kristen Durst 1 1 0-0 5, Lauren Ragan 0 0 0-0 0, Leticia Araiyo 5 0 1-2 11, Chloe Payne 1 0 1-2 3, Lalla Hurlow 0 0 0-0 0, Maison Gruber 0 0 0-0 0, Marcie Kessinger 0 0 0-0 0, Joicy Livas 1 0 0-2 2, Emilia Barbero 0 0 0-0 0, Kylie Henry 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 1 3-8 26. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.
ST. JOSEPH (10-11): Kaitlyn Sheridan 3 1 0-0 9, Faith Mahlmeister 6 0 4-4 16, Emilee Blankenship 0 0 0-2 0, Emma Whaley 6 0 0-0 12, Lauren Bush 1 0 0-0 2, Bella Whaley 5 0 0-0 10, Chloe Sheridan 3 0 1-1 7, Laiken Unger 0 0 0-0 0, Lydia Sheridan 0 0 0-0 0, Kerri Jenkins 1 0 0-4 0. Totals: 25 1 5-11 58. Rebounds: 26 (Mahlmeister 8, B. Whaley 5, E. Whaley 3, C. Sheridan 3, L. Sheridan 2, Blankenship 2, Bush 2, Unger 1).