Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

ROCKSPRINGS — Big.
No, not the movie “Big,” but the numerous plays made by the St. Joseph Lady Flyers as they beat the South Gallia Lady Rebels 35-33 in overtime on Wednesday in the Division IV sectional tournament at Meigs High School.
The biggest play came at the end of overtime when the Lady Flyers got a big stop on defense and then worked the ball for a final shot.
Bella Whaley found Faith Mahlmeister under the basket and she made the shot win one second on the clock to give the Lady Flyers’ the win.
“They deserved this after the way they started the year. They’ve worked and fought through a lot of tough times,” said Lady Flyers’ coach Bart Burcham.
“Everyone came up with some big plays. All of Kaitlyn Sheridan’s points seemed like big shots. Bella had two points but 12 rebounds and guarded their best player. Faith hit the big shot. When Faith and Bella got in foul trouble in the third quarter, Laiken (Unger) and Chloe (Sheridan) came in and got some big rebounds. Emma Whaley hit big shot after big shot. Emilee Blankenship just played so hard. I’m tickled to death for all of them.”
Emma Whaley had 14 points while Mahlmeister got 10 points and 10 rebounds. Bella Whaley had 12 rebounds and five assists. Kaitlyn Sheridan had seven points and four steals.
Jessie Rutt got seven points, 11 rebounds, five assists and five steals for South Gallia (6-14).
Emma Whaley scored four points as St. Joseph led 10-3 after the first quarter.
Kiley Stapleton hit a 3-pointer and she and Rutt had four points as the Lady Rebels got within 17-14 at the half.
Mahlmeister scored five points in the quarter.
Christine Griffith and Faith Poling scored four points each as South Gallia took a 25-24 lead after three quarters. Kaitlyn Sheridan nailed a trey and Emma Whaley scored four points.
In the fourth quarter, Emma Whaley hit a foul shot to tie the game at 30.
In overtime, South Gallia took a 33-30 lead but Emma Whaley drained a trifecta to tie the game and set up the winning basket by Mahlmeister.
St. Joseph will play No. 1 seed Waterford at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Tickets are $5 and on sale at the high school.
South Gallia 3 11 11 5 3 = 33
St. Joseph 10 7 7 6 5 = 35
SOUTH GALLIA (6-14): Alyssa Cremeens 0 1 0-0 3, Amaya Howell. 1 1 0-0 5, Kiley Stapleton 1 1 1-2 6, Jessie Rutt 2 0 3-5 7, Jaslyn Bowers 0 0 0-0 0, Makayla Waugh 0 0 0-0 0, Christine Griffith 2 0 2-2 6, Faith Poling 2 0 2-4 6, Emily Mandeville 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-62 8-13 33. 3-pt goals: 3-13. Rebounds: 16-O, 21-D = 37 (Rutt 11, Griffith 9). Assists: 6 (Rutt 5). Steals: 15 (Rutt 5). Blocks: 1 (Poling). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.
ST. JOSEPH (12-11): Kaitlyn Sheridan 2 1 0-0 7, Laiken Unger 0 0 0-0 0, Emma Whaley 5 1 1-3 14, Emilee Blankenship 1 0 0-0 2, Faith Mahlmeister 4 0 2-3 10, Bella Whaley 1 0 0-0 2, Lydia Sheridan 0 0 0-0 0, Kerri Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0, Chloe Sheridan 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-52 3-6 35. 3-pt goals: 2-11. Rebounds: 14-O, 30-D = 44 (B. Whaley 12, Mahlmeister 10, E. Whaley 9, Unger 4, C. Sheridan 3, K. Sheridan 3, Blankenship 2). Assists: 8 (B. Whaley 5). Steals: 6 (Sheridan 4). Blocks: 4 (Mahlmeister 3). Turnovers: 13. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.