By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

The game of basketball is a game of ups and downs, The St. Joseph Flyers hit their down at the wrong time.

The Flyers led most of the game before going cold in the fourth quarter and allowing the New Boston Tigers to rally for a 55-51 win to claim the Flyers Invitational on Friday.

Eli Whaley drained a pair of trifectas, Evan Balestra hit a trey and both Drew Brown and Carter Johnson scored 4 points as St. Joseph took a 17-9 first quarter lead.

Balestra and Brown had 3-pointers and Wesley Neal scored 4 points as the Flyers extended the lead to 29-19 at the break.

Jayse Tabor hit a pair of 3-pointers and Devin Allard was 4-of-4 at the line for the Tigers in the quarter.

Whaley hit two more triples and Brown had a 3-pointer and it was 44-37 at the end of the third quarter.

Allard had a 3-pointer and was 3-of-5 at the line while Lamarcus Parker scored 5 points including a 3-pointer in the quarter for the Tigers.

Jake Stephens sank a foul shot to put the Flyers up 45-42 and Brown’s layup had the lead at 47-44 to start the fourth quarter.

But a layup by Parker and a foul shot and layup by Allard put the Tigers ahead 49-47.

Neal’s 2 free throws tied the game but Allard’s layup gave New Boston the lead for good at 51-49.

Brown’s scored to get the Flyers within 53-51 but Allard sank 2 foul shots to seal the win.

Brown led the Flyers (1-5) with 14 points with Whaley hitting four 3-pointers for 12 points and Neal scored 10.

Allard had a game-high 21 points and Tabor scored 19 with Parker adding 13 for New Boston (2-4).

NewBoston   9 10 18 18 = 55

St. Joseph 17 12 15 7 = 51

NEW BOSTON (2-4): Devin Allard 3 1 12-15 21, Jayse Tabor 2 5 0-0 19, Tyreke Lewis 1 0 0-0 2, Colton Maynard 0 0 0-0 0, Lamarcus Parker 5 1 0-0 13, Chase Young 0 0 0-0 0, Kellen Gray 0 0 0-0 0, T.J. Curnutte 0 0 0-0 0, Hunter Easter 0 0 0-2 0. Totals: 11 7 12-17 55. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

ST. JOSEPH (1-5): Eli Whaley 0 4 0-0 12, Evan Balestra 1 2 0-2 8, Drew Brown 4 2 0-0 14, Jake Stephens 1 0 1-2 3, Wesley Neal 3 0 4-6 10, Carter Johnson 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 11 8 5-8 51. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.