Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — Ryan Payne shot the lights out, so J.C. Damron went up and fixed them. He also scored a few points on his way up and down.
Payne hit four 3-pointers and scored 21 points while Damron led all scorers with 25 points to lead the St. Joseph Flyers to a 74-52 Southern Ohio Conference win over the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans on Friday.
“We played really hard and really well,” said Flyers’ coach Chris Barnes. “J.C. went crazy and Ryan shot the lights out and he guarded their shooter.”
Zach Roach scored 12 points and Jimmy Mahlmeister added 8 points for the Flyers (6-0, 4-0).
Jermaine Powell and Jarren Edgington scored 13 points each for the Titans (2-4, 0-3).
Payne drained three trifectas in the first quarter with Damron scoring 4 points and Jackson Rowe getting a triple as the Flyers took an 18-15 lead.
Powell and Ethan Kammer scored 5 points each for the Titans.
Damron took control in the second quarter as he scored 10 of the Flyers’ 18 points. Damron made two 3-pointers and was 2-of-2 at the foul line as the lead went to 36-24.
Roach got into the act in the third quarter as he buried three treys and Damron scored 6 more points with Jared Johnson adding a 3-pointer as the lead grew to 56-40.
Edgington scored 8 points while Dylan Seison had 6 points including a 3-pointer for the Titans (2-4, 0-3).
Payne had 10 points and Damron 5 more including 3-of-4 at the line in the fourth quarter as the Flyers played add-on.
Powell and Caleb Nichols combined for 9 points as each hit a 3-pointer for the Titans in the quarter.
“Max Weber was sick so we used Jared Johnson and he did a nice job playing his role. Jared, J.C. and Jimmy Mahlmeister rebounded like crazy,” said Barnes. “It’s tough to beat Notre Dame like that at their place. We’ve played four games in eight days. We need some bench help. Our guys are getting a little tired.”
The Flyers visit Maysville (Ky.) St. Patrick on Saturday.
St. Joseph 18 18 20 18 = 74
Notre Dame 15 9 16 12 = 52
ST. JOSEPH (6-0, 4-0): Jackson Rowe 1 1 0-0 5, Matt Sheridan 0 0 0-0 0, Zach Roach 1 3 1-2 12, Ryan Payne 4 4 1-2 21, J.C. Damron 7 2 5-9 25, Jared Johnson 0 1 0-0 3, Michael Mahlmeister 0 0 0-0 0, Jimmy Mahlmeister 4 0 0-0 8. Totals: 17 11 7-13 74. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.
PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (2-4, 0-3): Carter Campbell 0 0 2-2 2, Jermaine Powell 2 2 3-3 13, Dominic Sparks 0 0 1-2 1, Gary Zheng 0 0 0-0 0, Chris Schmidt 0 0 0-0 0, Dylan Seison 1 1 4-7 9, Ethan Kammer 1 1 0-0 5, Reagan Lester 0 0 0-0 0, Jarren Edgington 6 0 1-4 13. Totals: 11 6 12-20 52. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.