Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

In the Walt Disney movie “Mary Poppins,” Dick Van Dyke sang a song called “Step In Time.”
The St. Joseph Lady Flyers were out of step after their long layoff due to the flu epidemic that ran through area schools. But after getting a slow start, the Lady Flyers back in stride as they got past the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings 49-43 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Tuesday.
“We were a step behind everything to start with, but once we got going the girls did what they were supposed to do,” said Lady Flyers’ coach Bart Burcham.
“We switched from man and zone and did a good job for most of the game. Our rebeounding was good but it can still be better.”
Bella Whaley drained a 3-pointer and scored 5 points and Emma Whaley had 4 points in the first quarter as St. Joseph took a 13-10 lead.
Rachael Hayes and Hailee Littlejohn scored 4 points each in the first quarter.
The Lady Flyers took a 26-21 lead at the break as Emma Whaley went 4-for-4 at the foul line and scored 6 points in the second quarter.
Jenna Malone got 6 points in the quarter for the Lady Vikings (5-18).
Emma Whaley hit a 3-pointer while Faith Mahlmeister, Gracie Damron and Bella Whaley each had a basket in the third quarter.
But Kylee Thompson had 4 points while Taylor Sells, Malone and Hayes scored 2 points each as the Lady Vikings cut the lead to 35-31.
In the fourth quarter, Bella Whaley scored 8 points and the Lady Flyers converted 6-of-6 at the foul line as Kaitlyn Sheridan, Mahlmeister and Bella Whaley sank two foul shots each.
Thompson hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points as five different players scored for the Lady Vikings.
Lady Vikings’ coach Shannon Pierce praised his team for their effort including seniors Payton Hunter, Taylor Sells, Rachael Hayes, Hailee Littlejohn and Kaylee Cade.
“We played pretty well. We had a chance to win in the fourth quarter,” said Pierce. “St. Joe did a nice job of hitting their foul shots. We will miss our five seniors.”
Mahlmeister had 11 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Lady Flyers. Bella Whaley had 15 points and 8 rebounds and Emma Whaley added 13 points.
Thompson and Malone scored 10 points each as the Lady Vikings closed out their season. Littlejohn added 9 points to the offense.
Burcham lauded his two seniors Kaitlyn Sheridan and Faith Mahlmeister who have been team captains for the past two seasons.
“Those two have been excellent leaders. They are two great young ladies that all of us coaches love dearly and will be missed next year,” said Burcham.
“Faith, I couldn’t be prouder of a girl who has done everything we’ve asked her to do. When she plays like she did tonight, we’re hard to beat.
“Kaitlyn has been my point guard and she is the reason I took this job. Coached her in the eighth grade and just loved how hard she competed and how much she wanted to win. I never take her off the floor because she does everything that people don’t notice that makes the game easier for everyone.
UP NEXT: St. Joseph plays New Boston at 2:45 p.m. in the D4 sectional tournament at Northwest High School on Saturday.
Sym. Valley 10 11 10 12 = 43
St. Joseph 13 13 9 12 = 49
SYMMES VALLEY (5-18, 4-10): Jenna Malone 4 0 2-24 10, Payton Hunter 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Sells 3 0 0-0 6, Rachael Hayes 2 0 2-2 6, Kylee Thompson 2 1 3-4 10, Hailee Littlejohn 4 0 1-2 9, Spring Ross 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 16 1 8-12 43. Fous: 13. Fouled out: None.
ST. JOSEPH (11-11, 7-7): Kaitlyn Sheridan 1 0 2-2 4, Faith Mahlmeister 4 0 3-5 11, Emma Whaley 3 1 4-5 13, Bella Whaley 5 1 2-2 15, Chloe Sheridan 1 0 0-0 2, Gracie Damron 1 0 0-0 2, Aubrey Sutton 0 0 0-0 0, Kerri Jenkins 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 15 2 11-14 49. Rebounds: 31 (Mahlmeister 11, B. Whaley 8, K. Sheridan 4, C. Sheridan 3, Damron 2, E. Whaley 2). Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.