SCIOTOVILLE - Trying to stop the bleeding is going to take more than a box of bandages.

The St. Joseph Flyers came close, but the Portsmouth East Tartans ability to convert free throws dealt the Flyers a 73-70 loss Tuesday, their ninth straight setback.

“We played better team ball, but we have to put together four quarters,” St. Joseph coach Kevin Hacker said. “We had our chances. We just can’t catch a break right now.”

Jeff Swick led East with 27 points including 17 of 26 from the foul line. Alex Shope scored 19.

Cory Lewis scored 21 points for the Flyers (7-10). Michael Basedow had 11 points and five rebounds while Alex Swarts got 10 points and nine rebounds.

Hacker said one bright spot was the play of freshman Chad Harvey.

“Chad Harvey stepped up and played well, but he still made some freshmen mistakes just because he hasn’t had a lot of playing time,” Hacker said.

East took an 8-0 lead to start the game and led 18-10 at the end of the quarter.

Harvey scored all seven of his points in the second quarter as each team scored 16 points and it was 34-26 at intermission.

Basedow and Lewis got five each in the third quarter but East managed to extend its lead to 50-38.

In the fourth quarter, Lewis scored 12 points and Swarts six before fouling out, but

East converted 17 of 31 free throws to hold off the Flyers comeback attempt.

Swick was 13 of 21 from the foul line in the quarter.

The Flyers Ryan Schwab hit a 3-pointer with 3.8 seconds left to cut the deficit to 73-70. After the defense forced a five-second call, the Flyers set up the final shot only to have the 3-point attempt just miss.

St. Joseph10161232=70

Ports. East18161623=73

ST. JOSEPH (7-10): Chad Harvey 3 0 1-1 7, Michael Basedow 5 0 1-3 11, Ryan Schwab 0 1 0-0 3, Cory Lewis 5 2 5-6 21, Clay Crum 1 0 0-0 2, Jeremy Addis 1 0 2-4 4, Ryan Waginger 0 1 0-0 3, Alex Swarts 4 0 2-5 10, Alex Brown 0 0 0-0 0, Ryan Staton 3 0 1-2 7, Jerrod Laber 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 28-60 24-44

(4-16)

12-21

70. Fouls: 34. Fouled out: Basedow, Addis, Swarts, Staton. Rebounds: 7-15=22 (Swarts 9, Basedow 5). Assists: 9 (Harvey 3). Turnovers: 12. Steals: 14 (Addis 4). Blocked shots: 2 (Harvey, Lewis).

PORTSMOUTH EAST (4-13): Jeff Swick 5 0 17-26 27, Nathan Williams 1 2 2-2 10, Kevin Scott 2 0 6-10 10, Adam Jones 2 0 1-2 5, John Luther 0 0 2-2 2, Alex Shope 7 0 5-6 19. Totals: 17

(2)

33-48

73. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Shope, Williams.