By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

That’s the kind of rebounding St. Joseph Flyers’ coach Jeremy Williams was hoping to see.

After lopsided 71-35 loss last Friday at Portsmouth Notre Dame, the Flyers rebounded with a 49-44 win over the Portsmouth West Senators on Tuesday.

“It was a good win to come back after the way we played the last game. Most teams take a few games to recover after something like that,” said Williams.

Eli Lewis scored 22 points — 12 in the second half — and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Flyers (6-4) while Justin Mahlmeister had 8 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocked shots despite playing on a sprained ankle.

“(Mahlmeister) gutted it out. He contributed. He played hard, he rebounded and played defense,” said Williams. “Ike Palmer has been dinged up, too, and he played well. But it was a good team effort. Lane Johnson came in and played great defense. Zack Dalton, Joseph Payton and Troy Scott gave us great minutes.”

Zach Bolton had 17 points to lead West (7-3). J.B. Travis added 11 points.

Palmer had 5 points and Lewis 4 in the first quarter as the Flyers took a 12-11 lead.

Bolton had 7 points in the second quarter as West rallied to take a 24-22 halftime lead.

Lewis scored 6 points in the third quarter as the Flyers regained the lead at 35-33.

Lewis had 6 more points in the fourth quarter and Scott was 3 of 4 from the line down the stretch to seal the win.

The Flyers play at Raceland, Ky., next Tuesday.

Portsmouth West 11 13 9 11 = 44

St. Joseph 12 10 13 14 = 49

PORTSMOUTH WEST (7-3): Daulton Kenyon 0 0 0-0 0, Mike Davis 1 0 0-0 2, Zach Frye 2 1 2-2 9, Austin Bricker 0 0 0-0 0, Zach Bolton 3 3 2-5 17, Mike Hafer 1 0 0-2 2, Phillip Carnes 0 0 2-2 2, Tate Bailey 0 0 1-2 1, J.B. Travis 4 1 0-0 11. Totals: 16-47 7-13 44. 3-point goals: 5-15. Rebounds: 20 (Frye 7). Assists: 9 (Travis 3). Steals: 4 (Bolton 2). Turnovers: 7. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.

SAINT JOSEPH (6-4): Ike Palmer 2 0 5-12 9, Joseph Payton 0 0 0-0 0, Zack Dalton 1 0 0-0 2, Eli Lewis 11 0 0-0 22, Justin Mahlmeister 2 1 1-2 8, Troy Scott 1 1 3-7 8, Lane Johnson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-37 9-21 49. 3-point goals: 2-5. Rebounds: 27 (Lewis 12, Mahlmeister 10). Assists: 16 (Mahlmeister 5, Scott 4). Steals: 1 (Lewis). Turnovers: 15. Blocked shots: 2 (Mahlmeister 2). Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.