Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — Everyone likes offense, but it is the other aspects of the game that are the keys for the St. Joseph Flyers.

Defense, rebounding and making foul shots played a major role as the Flyers took a season-opening 51-37 win over the Portsmouth Clay Panthers on Friday.

“We played really good half-court defense,” said Flyers’ coach Jeremy Williams. “We closed down and kept them out of the paint and we did a really good job on the boards.”

The defense held Clay to 11 of 47 shooting from the field including 6 of 24 from behind the 3-point line.

Wulf Goheen scored 18 points to lead the Flyers. Zac McGraw scored 15 points, Troy Scott had 12 and freshman Chase Walters got the other 6 points in his first varsity game.

Chris Lewis had eight rebounds while Walters and Scott had six each.

“Wulf and Troy and Chris played well like always,” said Williams.

“But Chase played well for a freshman in his first game and Zac played well in his first varsity game. Trey Young played rally hard and Ben McDonald has his best game and neither one scored.”

Cameron King hit five 3-pointers as he scored 19 points to lead Clay (0-1).

The Flyers trailed 10-6 at the end of the first quarter, but held Clay to just two points in the second quarter as they rallied to take an 18-12 lead at the break.

The lead was 31-22 after three quarters and the Flyers were 17 of 24 from the foul line in the fourth quarter including Goheen who was 11 of 15.

“We started the game real sluggish, but we picked it up,” said Williams.

St. Joseph plays at Raceland, Ky., on Tuesday.

St. Joseph 6 12 13 20 = 51

Ports. Clay 10 2 10 15 = 37

ST. JOSEPH (1-0): Wulf Goheen 2 1 11-15 18, Chris Lewis 0 0 0-0 0, Troy Scott 1 1 7-8 12, Zac McGraw 3 1 6-11 15, Chase Walters 3 0 0-0 6, Trey Young 0 0 0-0 0, Ben McDonald 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-28 24-24 51. 3-point goals: 3-9. Rebounds: 27 (Lewis 8, Walters 6, Scott 6). Assists: 6 (Goheen 2). Steals: 9 (Scott 3). Turnovers: 11. Blocked shots: 5 (Lewis 2, Young 2). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (0-1): Aaron Phipps 1 0 4-4 6, Conner Phipps 0 0 0-0 0, Zack Phillips 1 0 1-2 3, Cole Gilliland 1 1 1-2 6, Brody Riffe 0 0 0-0 0, Cameron King 1 5 2-2 19, Matt Smith 0 0 0-0 0, Bryson Hurt 0 0 0-0 0, Anthony Williams 1 0 1-2 3, Nate Hinze 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-47 9-12 37. 3-point goals: 6-24. Rebounds: 18 (Gilliland 4). Steals: 6 (King 2). Turnovers: 14. Blocked shots: 2 (Hinze 2). Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Hinze.