By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Ah, shoot!

The St. Joseph Flyers struggled with their shooting against the Waterford defense as the Wildcats took a 44-29 win on Saturday afternoon.

The Flyers were just 13 of 44 from the field for 29.5 percent including zero for 9 from behind the arc.

The game was tied at 8-all after the first quarter as Wesley Neal scored 4 points for the Flyers and Reese Lang hit a 3-pointer and scored 5 points for the Wildcats.

Lang knocked down three 3-pointers in the second quarter as Waterford took a 19-14 lead at the half.

Carter Johnson scored all 6 of the Flyers’ points in the quarter.

The Wildcats took command in the third quarter by outscoring the Flyers 13-4 and the lead was now 32-18.

Lang hit two more 3-pointers and Finn Pennock also made a 3-pointer.

Eli Whaley scored all 4 points for the Flyers.

Pennock hit another trey and scored 6 points and Gavin Heiner had 4 points as the Wildcats outscored the Flyers 12-11 in the fourth quarter.

Zane “Z-Man” Dressel scored at 5 of his points and Neal scored 4 points to pace the Flyers.

Neal had 8 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Flyers (9-6). Landon “Rocky” Rowe got 5 rebounds2 assists and 2 steals. Aiden Deborde had 3 assists while Deborde, Whaley and Beckham Waginger had 3 rebounds each.

Lang scored a game-high 19 points for the Wildcats (7-8). Pennock added 11 points.

Waterford 8 11 13 12 = 44

St. Joseph 8 6 4 11 = 29

WATERFORD (7-8): Weston Fairchild 0 0 0-0 0, Gavin Heiner 3 0 0-0 6, Reese Lang 0 6 1-2 19, Jared Heiss 0 0 0-0 0, Tyson Franchino 1 0 0-0 2, Finn Pennock 2 2 1-1 11, Avery Pottmeyer 0 0 0-0 0, Cole Sparling-Ponchak 2 0 2-2 6. Totals: 8 8 4-5 44. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

ST. JOSEPH (9-6): Aiden Deborde 0 0 0-0 0, Eli Whaley 2 0 0-4 4, Landon Rowe 2 0 0-4 4, Beckham Waginger 1 0 0-0 2, Wesley Neal 4 0 0-2 8, Zane Dressel 2 0 1-2 5, Carson Willis 0 0 0-0 0, Carter Johnson 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 13-44 3-10 29. 3-pt goals: 3-10. Rebounds: 28 (Neal 10, Rowe 5, Deborde 3, Whaley 3, Waginger 3). Assists: 8 (Deborde 3, Rowe 2, Neal 2). Steals: 5 (Rowe 2). Turnovers: 9.