Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Keeping the Eastern Lady Eagles out of the lane kept the St. Joseph Female Flyers unbeaten.

The Female Flyers changed their defense in the second half and slowed down the Lady Eagles as they won a battle of unbeatens 43-39 on Thursday.

“I know they lost some good players, but they’re pretty good. They’re the best team we’ve played. It was a good win for us,” said Female Flyers’ coach Nick Miller.

“We made some defensive adjustments at the half and that made a difference in the second half. We kept them out of the middle.”

Hannah Miller scored 8 points in the first quarter as St. Joseph took a 12-8 lead.

Eastern came to life in the second quarter as Alia Hayes scored 5 points to lead a 17-10 scoring outburst that gave the Lady Eagles a 25-22 lead.

Miller scored 8 more points in the quarter for the lead.

Amber Neal and Miller combined for 10 points in the third quarter as the Female Flyers 34-31 lead.

Hannah Miller finished with a game-high 25 points. Neal added 12 points.

“Hannah played well. She scored well and Eastern played really well defensively,” said coach Miller.

In the fourth quarter, Neal sank two free throws with under a minute to play that extended St. Joseph’s lead from 41-39 to 43-39.

“In the fourth quarter, Neal hit two clutch free throws and Katie Roach came in and gave us a really big basket and played good defense. Everyone did something to help us win,” said coach Miller.

Laura Pullins had 11 points and Madison Williams 10 for Eastern.

St. Joseph (4-0) plays Charleston (W.Va.) Catholic at 3 p.m. Saturday at Coal Grove in the River Battle.

St. Joseph won the jayvee game 17-8.

Meigs Eastern 8 17 6 8 = 39

St. Joseph 12 10 12 9 = 43

MEIGS EASTERN (4-1): Laura Pullins 3 1 2-2 11, Madison Williams 5 0 0-2 10, Hannah Bailey 2 1 0-0 7, Hannah Barringer 1 0 0-0 2, Alia Hayes 2 1 0-1 7, Abbie Hawley 1 0 0-0 2, Elizabeth Collins 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 3 2-5 39. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

ST. JOSEPH (4-0): Katie Roach 1 0 0-0 2, Amber Neal 4 0 4-4 12, Lynsey Booker 1 0 1-3 3, Rachel Martin 0 0 1-2 1, Hannah Miller 8 2 3-3 25, Haley Bartram 1 0 0-0 2, Bri Bridges 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 2 9-12 43. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.