By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Carson Willis waited for a big game to have a big moment.

Although he is usually a role player, Willis played a major role as he scored a career-high 23 points to help the St. Joseph Flyers beat the Green Bobcats 68-65 in a Southern Ohio Conference-1 game on Friday.

Wesley Neal scored 24 points as the two Flyers combined for 47 points in the big league win.

Green’s Jon Knapp led all scorers with 30 points. His final basket in the fourth quarter not only gave him the 30 point total but it also gave the Bobcats’ junior 1,000 career points.

Landon Kimbler scored 23 points to combine with Knapp for 53 points.

St. Joseph (12-8, 7-2) jumped out to a 23-10 first quarter lead as Neal scored 9 points and Willis had 7 points. Beckham Waginger added a 3-pointer to the total.

Kimbler hit a pair of 3-pointers for the Bobcats.

Green (11-11, 7-3) sliced the deficit to 36-26 as Knapp scored 6 points and Kimber hit another 3-pointer and scored 5 points.

Five different Flyers scored in the quarter with Willis netting 4 points.

Knapp caught fire in the third quarter and triggered the rally that saw the Bobcats tie the game at 52-all.

Knapp scored 15 points while Kimbler added 8 points as both players hit a pair of 3-pointers.

Neal scored 8 points and Willis 6 in the quarter for the Flyers.

But the Flyers were able to recover and outscore Green 16-13 in the fourth quarter Willis had 6 points while Neal and Waginger got 5 each. The Flyers were 6 of 7 from the foul line in the quarter with Waginger 3 of 3, Willis 2 of 2 and Neal 1 of 2.

Knapp scored 7 points, Kimbler had 3 foul shots and Brody Stapleton hit a 3-pointer for the Bobcats.

Aiden Deborde had 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals for the Flyers. Neal had 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals while Waginger had 5 rebounds.

Green    10 16 26 13 = 65

St. Joseph 23 13 16 16 = 68

GREEN (11-11, 7-3): Kamren Russell 0 0 0-0 0, Quincy Merrill 0 0 0- 0 0, Jon Knapp 11 2 2-3 30, Brody Stapleton 1 2 0-0 8, Landon Kimber 2 5 4-6 23, Gabe Blevins 0 0 0-0 0, Blake Smith 2 0 0-0 4, Landon Lewis 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 9 6-9 65. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

ST. JOSEPH (12-8, 7-2): Aiden Deborde 1 0 0-0 2, Landon Rowe 1 0 0-0 2, Beckham Waginger 1 2 3-3 11, Wesley Neal 10 0 4-7 24, Zane Dressel 2 0 0-0 4, Carson Willis 10 0 3-4 23, Carter Johnson. 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 28-54 10-14 68. 3-pt goals: 2-7. Rebounds: 22 (Neal 7, Deborde 5, Waginger 5, Willis 5). Assists: 11 (Deborde 6, Neal 2, Dressel 2). Steals: 13 (Rowe 3, Neal 3, Deborde 3, Willis 2). Turnovers: 8, Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.