Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Live by the 3, die by the 3.
The biggest key for the St. Joseph Flyers is shooting 3-pointers well. But the Flyers suffered their worst shooting night from the arc on Friday as they lost 57-54 to the Green Bobcats.
The Flyers (9-4, 5-3) were 1-of-14 from behind the 3-point arc and converted only 11-of-21 free throws.
St. Joseph missed a 3-pointer that would have sent the game into overtime.
“I don’t even know how we were that close. We just have to continue to battle and find a way to stop the losing streak. That’s all there is to it,” said Flyers’ coach Chris Barnes whose team lost for the third time in four games.
Zach Roach scored 18 points for the Flyers and had their only 3-point goal. J.C. Damron scored 16 points but leading scorer Ryan Payne had only 6 points and battled four trouble.
Green (7-7, 3-5) was led by Gage Sampson with 18 points and he eclipsed the 1,000-career point milestone. Ethan Huffman had 14 points.
St. Joseph led 9-6 after the first quarter as Roach hit a 3-pointer and scored 7 points.
Sampson scored 4 points and both Levi Sampson and Levi Singleton hit 3-pointers as Green rallied to take a 20-17 halftime lead.
The scoring exploded in the third quarter as Green outscored St. Joseph 24-19 to take a 44-36 lead.
Gage Sampson scored 11 points in the quarter for Green and Damron scored 7 for the Flyers.
In the fourth quarter, the Flyers rallied by outscoring Green 18-13 and converted 8-of-9 at the line.
But the Bobcats were 4-of-8 at the line and Singleton hit a 3-pointer as they held on for the win.
On Tuesday, St. Joseph visits Western.
Green 6 14 24 13 = 57
St. Joseph 9 8 19 18 = 54
GREEN (7-7, 3-5): Alec Smith 2 0 0-0 4, Ethan Huffman 4 0 6-8 14, Levi Singleton 0 2 0-0 6, Gage Sampson 8 0 2-4 18, Trevor Darnell 2 0 2-5 6, Levi Sampson 0 2 1-2 7, Troy Otworth 0 0 0-0 0, Caden Brammer 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 17 4 11-19 57. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.
ST. JOSEPH (9-4, 5-3): Jackson Rowe 0 0 0-0 0, Zach Roach 7 1 1-2 18, Matthew Sheridan 1 0 0-1 2, Ryan Payne 2 0 2-2 6, J.C. Damron 5 0 6-11 16, Jared Johnson 3 0 0-1 6, Jimmy Mahlmeister 2 0 2-4 6, Max Weber 2 0 2-4 6. Totals: 19 1 11-21 54. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.