Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

NEW BOSTON — No shot is an easy shot for the St. Joseph Lady Flyers.
The Lady Flyers continued to play great defense but failed to convert around the basket as they lost 39-27 to the New Boston Lady Tigers in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Thursday.
“Our first four shots were layups and we missed them. We missed five or six shots that were all close shots and the rest of the first half followed suit or we just weren’t strong enough with the ball and had turnovers,” said Lady Flyers’ coach Bart Burcham.
“In the past and earlier in the season, we’re making those shots. We’ve got to relax and start hitting them.”
Four different players scored as New Boston took a 9-2 first quarter lead.
Faith Mahlmeister got the only basket for St. Joseph.
Lexus Oiler had 6 points and Shelby Easter 4 as New Boston built a 23-7 halftime lead.
Bella Whaley had a 3-pointer and Chloe Sheridan a basket for the Lady Flyers’ scoring.
St. Joseph outscored New Boston 20-16 in the second half but could overcome the early deficit.
“We switched defense in the second half and played much harder. I probably should have switched earlier and that’s on me. We’ve got four games left to get this right before the tournament,” said Burcham.
Bella Whaley had 4 points, Emma Whaley hit a trifecta and Mahlmeister scored as St. Joseph cut the lead to 31-16. Easter had 6 points for the Lady Tigers.
In the fourth quarter, Bella Whaley had 5 points including a 3-pointer, Emma Whaley 4 and Mahlmeister added 2 more as St. Joseph outscored New Boston 11-8 but fell short in its comeback bid.
Lexus and Sammy Oiler hit 3-pointers for the Lady Tigers.
St. Joseph (8-10, 6-6) was led by Bella Whaley with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Emma Whaley had 7 points, Mahlmeister got 6 points and 8 rebounds, and Chloe Sheridan 7 rebounds.
Lexus Oiler scored 11 points and Easter 10 for New Boston (14-6, 10-2).
On Monday, St. Joseph plays Ohio Valley Christian.
St. Joseph 2 5 9 11 = 27
New Boston 9 14 8 8 = 39
ST. JOSEPH (8-9, 6-6): Kaitlyn Sheridan 0 0 0-0 0, Faith Mahlmeister 3 0 0-0 6, Emma Whaley 2 1 0-0 7, Bella Whaley 3 2 0-0 12, Chloe Sheridan 1 0 0-0 2, Aubrey Sutton 0 0 0-0 0, Gracie Damron 0 0 0-0 0, Kerri Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 3 0-0 27. Rebounds: 34 (B. Whaley 13, Mahlmeister 8, C. Sheridan 7, Damron 2, Sutton 2, E. Whaley 2). Assists: 5 (K. Sheridan 2, E. Whaley 2, B. Whaley 1). Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 10. Fouled out; None.
NEW BOSTON (14-6, 10-2): Lexus Oiler 3 1 2-2 11, Cadace Williams 1 0 0-0 2, Shelby Easter 4 0 2-2 10, Kenzi Whitley 1 1 0-0 5, Dylan O’Rourke 0 0 1-2 1, Taylor Hickman 1 0 1-2 3, Sammy Oiler 2 1 0-0 7. Totals: 12 3 6-9 39. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.