Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

St. Joseph Flyers’ coach Chris Barnes couldn’t find too much wrong in every facet of his team’s game.
The Flyers had a strong all-around team performance as they beat the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 60-42 on Wednesday.
“We played good team basketball. These guys always play together. When we knock down shots, it makes the game a lot easier,” said Barnes.
“But tonight, our defense was our focus. That’s about what (Notre Dame) has averaged this year and that’s kind of what we wanted to hold them to. Isaac (Whaley) always does the job whoever you put him on. He makes you work hard and earn your points.”
St. Joseph (3-1) shot 23-of-46 form the field for 50 percent, 10-of-25 from the 3-point line for 40 percent, 4-of-6 at the foul line for 67 percent. The Titans were 16-of-47 from the floor for 34 percent, 2-of-6 at the line and 8-of-25 from behind the arc for 32 percent.
“That’s the best we’ve shot this year. We’ve been 70 (percent) or better every game from the line,” said Barnes.
“When you shoot like that from three, shoot 50 (percent) from two, you make free throws and you defend, you’re going to win a lot of games.”
J.C. Damron paced a balanced offense with 18 points and nine rebounds, Jimmy Mahlmeister had 13 points and six rebounds, Zach Roach 12 points and three steals, Isaac Whaley nine points, six rebounds and four assists, and Ryan Payne eight points and three assists.
Ethan Kammer scored 12 points and Caleb Nichols 10 to lead the Titans.
The Flyers opened up the game with 17 unanswered points as Whaley, Mahlmeister and Payne all drained 3-pointers.
The Titans finally scored on a 15-footer by Nicholas with 1:22 left in the quarter but a putback by Mahlmeister at the buzzer gave the Flyers a 19-4 cushion.
Notre Dame (0-3) got within 24-11 on a triple by Cole Herrell and a layup by Jackson Clark.
Mahlmeister and Damron had the lead at 30-14 before Matt Mader hit a layup and then made a 3-pointer at the buzzer and the Flyers were up 30-17 at the half.
Roach came out hot to start the second half as he scored seven straight points and added another three point-goal as the Flyers took a 40-30 lead with 5:13 on the third quarter clock.
Damron’s follow up shot at the buzzer gave St. Joseph a 50-31 lead.
Notre Dame got within 50-37 on a 3-poiner by Nichols early in the fourth quarter.
But a baseline shot by Payne, a layup by Daron and a steal and layup by Whaley made it 56-39 with 4:08 to play.
The Flyers play at Ohio Valley Christian on Friday.
Notre Dame 4 13 14 11 = 42
St. Joseph 19 11 20 10 = 60
PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (0-3): Cole Herrell 0 1 0-0 3, Ben Mader 1 2 1-2 9, Jackson Clark 2 1 1-2 8, Caleb Nichols 2 2 0-2 10, Ethan Kammer 3 2 0-0 12, Xavier Shepard 0 0 0-0 0, Christopher Schmidt 0 0 0-0 0, Aidan Kirby 0 0 0-0 0, Christian Alvarez 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-47 2-6 42. 3-pt goals: 8-25. Rebounds: 9-O, 19-D = 28 (Kammer 8, Herrell 6, Nichols 5). Team/deadball rebounds: 4. Assists: 6 (Kammer 2, Clark 2). Steals: 4. Turnovers: 5. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None
ST. JOSEPH (3-1): Isaac Whaley 3 1 0-0 9, Zach Roach 1 3 1-3 12, Ryan Payne 1 2 0-0 8, J.C. Damron 6 13-3 18, Jimmy Mahlmeister 2 3 0-0 13, Jackson Rowe 0 0 0-0 0, Matt Sheridan 0 0 0-0 0, Max Weber 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Mahlmeister 0 0 0-0 0, Jared Johnson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-46 4-6 60. 3-pt goals: 10-25. Rebounds: 11-O, 23-D = 34 (Damron 9, Whaley 6, J. Mahlmeister 6). Team/deadball rebounds: 3. Assists: 11 (Whaley 4, Payne 3). Steals: 6 (Roach 3). Turnovers: 8. Fouls: 6. Fouled out: None.