Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

JACKSON — It wasn’t the coming out party the St. Joseph Female Flyers had hoped for.

Playing in their first district tournament in 26 years, the Female Flyers were unable to get into any offensive rhythm and their furious late rally fell short in a 33-29 loss to the South Gallia Lady Rebels in the Division IV semifinals Thursday.

St. Joseph (19-4) was 10 of 38 from the field including 5 of 14 from behind the arc. South Gallia (19-5) made 12 of 38 attempts and 3 of 10 from the 3-point line.

Hannah Miller and Amber Neal scored 12 points each to lead the Female Flyers. The two combined for all five 3-pointers.

Jasmyne Johnson scored 8 points and Ellie Bostic had 7 points to lead a balanced South Gallia offense.

The game was tied five times and had two lead changes, all in the first half.

Miller scored with 7:39 left in the half to give St. Joseph its final lead of the game at 4-3.

The game was tied at 5-5 when Sara Bailey hit a 3-pointer to put the Lady Rebels up for good at the 4:10 mark.

South Gallia led by as many as 7 points in the quarter and including 15-8 at the break.

Neal hit a pair of 3-pointers as the Female Flyers got within 15-14 with 5:22 left to go in the third quarter, but a 7-4 run by the Lady Rebels opened up a 22-18 lead at the end of the quarter.

South Gallia scored 7 unanswered runs to begin the fourth quarter and it was 29-18 with 57 seconds left to play.

The Female Flyers wouldn’t quit. Miller — who had 8 points in the quarter — hit a basket with 10 seconds left cut the deficit to 31-29. But Bostic was intentionally fouled and made both free throws with 4.2 seconds left to seal the win.

Saint Joseph 2 6 10 11 = 29

South Gallia 3 12 7 11 = 33

SAINT JOSEPH (19-4): Hannah Martin 0 0 2-4 2, Amber Neal 1 3 1-3 12, Hannah Miller 3 2 0-0 12, Molly Miller 0 0 1-2 1, Lynsey Booker 1 0 0-6 2, Katie Roach 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10-38 4-11 29. 3-point goals: 5-14. Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH GALLIA (19-5): Mikayla Poling 0 2 0-0 6, Ellie Bostic 2 0 3-6 7, Lesley Small 0 0 1-2 1, Sara Bailey 0 1 0-0 3, Meghan Caldwell 3 0 0-0 6, Rachel Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Jasmyne Johnson 3 0 2-2 8. Totals: 12-38 6-10 33. 3-point goals: 3-10. Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.