Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

MAYSVILLE, Ky. — The St. Patrick Classic was just what the St. Joseph Flyers needed.
The Flyers opened the season with a 69-58 win over the Whitesville Trinity Raiders on Friday and then lost a 72-70 heartbreaker to the host Saints in the championship game.
Flyers’ head coach Rex Cooksey was hoping for two wins but was pleased with his team’s overall effort.
“Friday was a good win. The kids played well for the first time out,” said Cooksey.
“It would have been nice to have won on Saturday, but I can’t fault our effort. We played hard both nights. Both games the kids were very unselfish and distributed the ball well. Our balance was pretty good.”
In the Classic title game, Chase Walters scored a career-high 31 points. Isaac Whaley hit six 3-point goals as he scored 20 points and also grabbed 6 rebounds.
Zac McGraw had 10 assists and 9 rebounds for the Flyers (1-1).
Ben Swolsky scored 29 points for the Saints (2-1). Baylen Bauer added 18 points.
The Flyers led 20-16 after the first quarter and 36-26 at the half. The lead was as much as 12 points in the third quarter before the Saints rallied to within 44-40.
The Saints hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as they took a 72-70 lead. They missed a foul shot and St. Joseph got the rebound to set up the final shot only to miss.
“We got a good look near the basket but it wouldn’t drop. We did a good. Whaley shot ball extremely well from the outside and Walters was very strong on the inside.,” said Cooksey.
“We played well but they just got hot and had a strong finish. You have to give them credit.”
In the win over Trinity, Walters had 19 points and 6 rebounds, McGraw 14 points and 6 rebounds, Tre Neal 11 points and 5 steals and Whaley 3 assists.

Jack Goetz scored 13 points while Zach Roberts and Colton Lanham added 11 each for the Raiders.
St. Joseph was up 12-10 after the first quarter and 25-23 at the break. Walters had 7 points and McGraw 6 in the third quarter as the lead went to 44-40.
With Trinity forced to foul, the Flyes were 17-of-22 from the line in the fourth quarter including Neal who went 7-of-10.
“It was nice to see the kids step up at the end and hit some free throws,” said Cooksey.
The Flyers hosts Coal Grove on Saturday.
Friday’s Game
St. Joseph    12    13    19    25    =    69
Trinity     10    13    17    18    =    58
ST. JOSEPH (1-0): Clay Willis 2 1 4-7 11, Zach Roach 0 1 0-0 3, Isaac Whaley 0 1 1-2 4, Peyton Adkins 1 0 2-3 4, Zac McGraw 6 0 2-2 14, Isaac Walker 1 0 1-2 3, Tre Neal 2 0 7-10 11, Chase Walters 7 0 5-8 19, Joey Bush 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-41 22-34 6 9. 3-point goals: 3-10. Rebounds: 4-O, 18-D = 22 (Walters 6, McGraw 6). Assists: 8 (Whaley 3). Steals: 7 (Neal 5). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Whaley.
WHITESVILLE TRINITY (2-1): Cameron Wright 1 0 1-2 3, Zach Roberts 4 1 0-0 11, Trenton Morris 0 3 0-0 9, Jack Goetz 5 0 3-4 13, Eric Howard 1 0 4-6 6, Dalton Crisp 1 1 0-0 5, Colton Lanham 1 3 0-0 11, Dylan Wright 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 8 8-12 58. Fouls: 22. Fouled out: Howard, Dylan Wright.
Saturday’s Game
St. Joseph    20    16    18    16    =    70
St. Patrick    16    10    25    21    =    72
ST. JOSEPH (1-1): Clay Willis 1 0 0-0 2, Zach Roach 0 2 0-0 6, Isaac Whaley 1 6 0-1 20, Peyton Adkins 0 0 1-2 1, Zac McGraw 2 0 3-5 7, Tre Neal 0 1 0-0 3, Chase Walters 13 0 5-8 31. Totals: 26-44 9-16 70. 3-point goals: 9-16. Rebounds: 3-O, 19-D = 22 (McGraw 9, Whaley 6). Assists: 17 (McGraw 10). Steals: 4. Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 20: Fouled out: Whaley, Neal.
ST. PATRICK (2-1): Baylen Bauer 1 4 4-5 18, Patrick McKay 0 1 1-2 4, Chandler Black 1 0 0-0 2, Josh Walton 3 0 1-5 7, Ben Swolsky 11 0 7-9 29, Jake Swolsky 0 2 2-2 8, Chase Burton 0 1 1-2 4. Totals: 6 8 17-25 72. Fouls: 17. Fouled: Walton, B. Swolsky.