Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

When it came to crunch time, the St. Joseph Lady Flyers chewed up the Western Lady Indians with their defense.
After a slow start, the Lady Flyers came to life and rallied to tie the game before winning the Southern Ohio Conference game 58-54 in overtime on Monday.
St. Joseph fell behind 11-1 to start the game and it before getting a basket to end the first quarter.
“We didn’t start out well and then we played well in spots,” said Lady Flyers’ coach Bart Burcham. “But in the fourth quarter and overtime, the girls just sat down and guarded.”
The Lady Flyers (3-1, 2-1) got the offense going in the second quarter as Faith Mahlmeister scored 8 points, Bella Whaley had 6 points and Emma Whaley hit a trifecta as they cut the deficit to 28-24.
Carson Walls hit a pair of 3-pointers to help Western (1-4, 1-2) keep the lead at the half.
Emma Whaley had 5 points including 3-of-4 at the foul line as St. Joseph got within 37-35.
In the fourth quarter, Brooklyn Tackett scored 4 points and Kenzi Ferneau hit a 3-pointers for Western, but Bella Whaley hit a trey and Gracie Damron scored with time running out to tie the game at 47 and force the overtime.
“Chloe (Sheridan) and Aubrey (Sutton) had some big rebounds and steals. Kerri (Jenkins) came in and helped us when no one else was boxing out and rebounding,” said Burcham.
“Gracie made the clutch basket to tie it. Faith battled all night and my other three guards played really well when it counted.”
Emma Whaley took over the offense in overtime with 7 points as she converted 3-of-4 at the line. Tackett hit a 3-pointers for the Lady Indians.
Mahlmeister had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, Emma Whaley scored 15 points and Bella Whaley got 12 points and 8 rebounds.
The Lady Flyers have only eight players and Burcham said it took an effort from all of them to get the win.
“It’s hard to play with just eight, but we’re getting more comfortable each day. It was just a real sluggish start and they battled through it and got a win. We would have lost this game last year,” said Burcham.
Alyssa Marhoover scored 14 to pace Western. Chloe Beckman, Jordan Rittenhouse and Ferneau had 9 points each.
St. Joseph plays at league favorite Portsmouth Notre Dame on Thursday.
Western 11 17 9 10 7 = 54
St. Joseph 5 19 11 12 11 = 58
WESTERN (1-4, 1-2): Brooklyn Tackett 2 1 0-0 7, Chloe Beckman 4 0 1-2 9, Jordan Rittenhouse 4 0 1-2 9, Kenzi Ferneau 2 1 2-4 9, Alyssa Marhoover 4 0 6-9 14, Taylor Grooms 0 0 0-0 0, Carson Walls 0 2 0-0 6. Totals: 16 4 10-17 54. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Tackett, Ferneau.
ST. JOSEPH (3-1, 2-1): Kaitlyn Sheridan 3 0 1-2 8, Faith Mahlmeister 6 0 3-6 15, Emma Whaley 3 1 6-8 15, Bella Whaley 4 1 1-2 12, Chloe Sheridan 1 0 0-0 2, Kerri Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0, Gracie Damron 3 0 0-0 6, Aubrey Sutton 3 0 0-0 6. Totals 23 2 11-18 58. Rebound: 38 (Mahlmeister 13, B. Whaley 8, C. Sheridan 4, Damron 4, K. Sheridan 3, E. Whaley 3, Sutton 2, Jenkins 1). Assists: 7 (K. Sheridan 4, B. Whaley 2, Sutton 1). Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.