Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — Share and share alike.
That seemed to be the theme for the St. Joseph Lady Flyers as they got past the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings 62-49 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Thursday.
The Lady Flyers had 17 assists as Bella Whaley handed out six, Kaitlyn Sheridan and Emma Whaley 4 each and Chloe Sheridan 3.
“We shared the ball really well. Chloe did an awesome job guarding people and hit a couple of big shots. Kaitlyn and Emma got us going and Faith and Bella did what they normally do,” said Burcham.
Emma Whaley hit four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 19 points to lead three Lady Flyers in double figures.
Kaitlyn Sheridan had her biggest offensive output of the season with 17 points including 6-of-8 at the foul line. Bella Whaley scored 11 points and Faith Mahlmeister had 9 points.
Taylor Sells scored 13 points and Rachael Hayes had 12 points. Sells hit three 3-pointers and Hayes made a pair of treys.
Spring Ross and Sells grabbed 5 rebounds each and Jenna Malone got 3 assists and 2 steals.
Symmes Vally (3-8, 2-5) came out hot as they took an 18-15 lead. Sells hit a pair of 3-pointes, Hayes had 5 points including a trey and Malone added a 3-pointer.
Emma Whaley hit a trifecta and scored 5 points and Mahlmeister got a couple of baskets for St. Joseph (6-5, 4-3).
Emma Whaley went deep three times in the second quarter for 9 points, Sheridan hit a triple and a basket while Bella Whaley had 5 points and St. Joseph rallied to take a 34-28 halftime lead.
The turning point came in the third quarter as the Lady Vikings could only manage 4 points while Sheridan scored 4 points and Emma Whaley, Bella Whaley, Chloe Sheridan and Gracie Damron all had baskets and it was 47-32.
“We started out well, but we just couldn’t score in the third quarter,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Shannon Pierce. “St. Joe played well. They dominated us on the boards.”
Sells scored 5 points as she and Hayes each hit 3-pointers and Hailee Littlejohn added 3 points as the Lady Vikings cored 17 points.
But Kaitlyn Sheridan was 5-of-6 at the foul line, Emma Whaley 4-for-4 and Mahlmeister had 5 points including a free throw to thwart any comeback hopes.
St. Joseph out-rebounded the Lady Vikings 35-16. Symmes Valley did not have an offensive rebound.
Burcham lauded his assistant coaches Courtney Daniels, Sara Hacker and Nick Culbertson whom he refers to as “Bart’s Angels.”
“My three assistants have been working hard with their groups and giving the girls a lot of individual attention. You can see it paying off. You couldn’t have three better people to coach with,” said Burcham.
On Monday, St. Joseph host Sciotoville East and Symmes Valley visits New Boston. The Lady Vikings also play at Eastern Meigs on Saturday.
St. Joseph 15 19 13 15 = 62
Sym. Valley 18 10 4 17 = 49
ST. JOSEPH (6-5, 4-3): Kaitlyn Sheridan 4 1 6-8 17, Faith Mahlmeister 4 0 1-2 9, Emma Whaley 2 4 4-4 19, Bella Whaley 4 0 3-8 11, Chloe Sheridan 2 0 0-0 4, Aubrey Sutton 0 0 0-0 0, Gracie Damron 1 0 0-2 2, Kerri Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 5 14-24 62. Rebounds: 35 (Mahlmeister 11, B. Whaley 10, E. Whaley 5, C. Sheridan 4). Assists: 17 (B. Whaley 6, K. Sheridan 4, E. Whaley 4, C. Sheridan 3). Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.
SYMMES VALLEY (3-8, 2-5): Jenna Malone 1 1 2-2 7, Payton Hunter 2 0 1-2 5, Meredith Humphries 1 0 0-0 2, Taylor Sells 2 3 0-0 13, Rachael Hayes 3 2 0-0 12, Kaylee Cade 0 0 0-0 0, Lauren Wells 0 0 0-0 0, Hailee Gordon 0 0 0-0 0, Hailee Littlejohn 2 1 1-2 8, Spring Ross 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 19-53 4-6 49. 3-pt goals: 7-20. Rebounds: 0-O, 16-D = 16 (Sells 5, Ross 5). Assists: 10 (Malone 3, Hunter 2, Hayes 2). Steals: 3 (Malone 2). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: Littlejohn.