Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

LATHAM — For 31 minutes and 55 seconds, Ryan Payne had a dismal offensive game.
St. Joseph’s leading scorer had yet to score a point when Payne took an inbounds pass, moved right and hit a 15-foot jumper just before the buzzer to lift the St. Joseph Flyers over the Western Indians 75-73 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Tuesday.
“Ryan struggled tonight but he hit the game-winner. His confidence never wavered,” said Flyers’ coach Chris Barnes.
“J.C. Damron picked up the slack and had an unbelievable game. That was his career high. Zach had a nice game and was a great leader keeping our heads in the game. Jared Johnson did a great defensive job on their big.
Damron scored a career-high 30 points including 6-of-6 at the foul line to lead the Flyers (10-4, 6-3). Zach Roach scored 19 points.
Western (8-6, 5-4) was coming off an 82-70 upset of Symmes Valley in a game the Indians made 15 3-point goals. They had nine against the Flyers as Maveric Ferneau scored 19 points, Kolten Miller 13 and Broc Jordan 12.
Damron 8 points and Jimmy Mahlmeister got all 6 of his points in the first quarter as St. Joseph took a 16-11 lead.
Damron scored 6 more points in the second quarter, Jackson Rowe knocked down a triple and had 5 points, Matthew Sheridan hit a trey and a free throw as the Flyers extended their lead to 35-28 at the break.
Roach scored 12 points including a pair of trifectas and Damron scored 10 points in the third quarter as St. Joseph built a 61-49 lead.
Ferneau hit three 3-pointers in the third quarter and Jordan scored 8 points as Western got within 61-49.
Miller and Ferneau each had two 3-pointers and scored 8 points each in the fourth quarter comeback.
But the Flyers were 6-of-8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter with Jared Johnson going 3-of-4 and Damron 2-of-2 as he scored 6 points.
“What a great effort tonight. We were ahead from start to finish except for the tie. But the kids earned that win. We needed that win. We’ve been pressing lately,” said Barnes.
The Flyers host Portsmouth Notre Dame Friday.
St. Joseph 16 19 26 14 = 75
Western 11 17 21 24 = 73
ST. JOSEPH (10-4, 6-3): Jackson Rowe 2 1 0-0 7, Matthew Sheridan 0 1 1-2 4, Zach Roach 6 2 1-2 19, Ryan Payne 1 0 0-0 2, J.C. Damron 12 0 6-6 30, Jared Johnson 1 0 3-4 5, Jimmy Mahlmeister 2 0 2-2 6. Totals 25 4 13-16 75. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.
WESTERN (8-6, 5-4): Reed Brewster 0 1 0-0 3, Coleman Gibson 0 0 0-0 0, Kolten Miller 1 2 5-6 13, Maveric Ferneau 2 5 0-2 19, Colton Montgomery 3 1 0-0 9, Sheldon Richardson 3 1 0-0 9, Austin Becker 1 0 3-4 5, Noah Whitt 2 0 1-2 5, Broc Jordan 5 0 2-3 12. Totals: 16 9 14-22 73. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.