By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PEDRO — Evan Morris came up with his best game at the best time.

Morris scored a career-high 12 points including three 3-pointers as the Rock Hill Redmen overcame a 28-point performance by Justin Mahlmeister to beat the St. Joseph Flyers 60-46 on Tuesday.

“Evan Morris really stepped his game up. That’s the best he’s played at the varsity level,” said Rock Hill coach Bob Wilds. “We needed it because (Mahlmeister) shot the lights out.”

Andy Knipp had 18 points and 9 rebounds for the Redmen (5-8). Will McCollister added 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists while Morris also had 6 rebounds.

Mahlmeister — who hit six 3-pointers — was the only player in double figures for the Flyers (6-6).

Rock Hill took command early as Morris scored 6 points, Trey Wilds 5 and Knipp 4 to give the Redmen a 17-7 lead.

Mahlmeister scored 10 points in the second quarter but Knipp had 8 as the Redmen went up 30-19 at the break.

McCollister scord 7 points and Jared Bruce had 6 of his 8 points in the third quarter as Rock Hill outscored the Flyers 15-7 to open up a 35-26 lead.

Rock Hill led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter, but the Flyers battled back and got within 10 points in the fourth quarter as Mahlmeister scored 11 points and Troy Scott went 6-of-6 at the foul line.

But Knipp and Morris combined for 7 points down the stretch to keep the Redmen in front.

On Saturday, the Flyers play host Green while the Redmen visit Portsmouth Clay.

St. Joseph 7 12 7 20 = 46

Rock Hill 17 13 15 15 = 60

ST. JOSEPH (6-6): Ike Palmer 1 0 1-4 3, Joseph Payton 1 0 0-0 2, Zack Dalton 0 0 0-0 0, Eli Lewis 3 0 1-2 7, Justin Mahlmeister 3 6 4-7 28, Troy Scott 0 0 6-6 6, Lane Johnson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 8 6 12-19 46. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

ROCK HILL (5-8): Drew Kidd 0 0 0-0 0, Will McCollister 2 2 1-4 11, Evan Morris 1 3 1-2 12, Austin Collins 0 0 0-0 0, Trey Wilds 1 1 2-2 7, Jared Bruce 3 0 2-2 8, Laden Delawder 2 0 0-0 4, Andy Knipp 7 0 4-4 18. Totals: 22-39 10-14 60. 3-point goals: 6-14. Rebounds: 7-21=28 (Knipp 9, McCollister 6, Morris 6). Assists: 9 (McCollister 5). Steals: 4 (Kidd 2). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.