Flyers withstand Panthers outside shooting, rally back for overtime win

IRONTON — The St. Joseph Flyers showed their resilience.

With Portsmouth Clay bombing 10 3-point goals and taking a first half lead, the Flyers kept battling back and beat the Panthers 55-52 in overtime of a Southern Ohio Conference-1 game on Monday.

Trailing for much of the game, the Flyers would tie it up with 3:56 the fourth after Eli Whaley hit a pair of free throws from a technical foul and buried a 3-pointer on the extra possession.

Both teams would trade the lead on ensuing possessions. First, Jackson Hannan would score on the low block, then Barrett Waginger hit a trey from the corner to keep the Flyers ahead by one.

Carson Willis would give the Flyers a 48-45 lead on a reverse layup with under 2 minutes remaining.

Needing a big play of their own, Evan Rider would come up with a steal off an inbounds pass and quickly hit a 3-pointer to tie the game up at 48-all with 43 seconds remaining.

Both teams would have opportunities to take the lead in the closing seconds, but the defenses would make key stops to send the game into overtime.

During the extra period, the Flyers would break on top first with Eli Whaley hitting a 3-pointer near the volleyball line to put St. Joseph up 51-48.

Clay would grab the lead after Bryce Whitley hit a free throw to get within two. Then Noah Woods would hit a trey in front of the Panther bench with 37 seconds left on the clock.

Barrett Waginger would bring the ball up the floor, come off a screen from Carter Johnson and pull the trigger from the top of the key for triple to put the Flyers back ahead 54-52 with 24 seconds showing on the clock.

The Panthers would have a chance to tie the game on their ensuing possession, but their shot from close range would hit the front of the iron and Flyers would gain possession.

Barrett Waginger would sink a free throw to put the finishing touches on the win.

Noah Woods hit three 3-pointers and Eli Bailey knocked down a pair of triples for the Panthers as Clay took an 18-9 first quarter lead.

Barrett Waginger had 5 points for the Flyers including a trey.

St. Joseph (9-10, 6-3) cut into the deficit in the second quarter to trail 30-23 at the half.

Eli Whaley drained a pair of 3-pointers and scored 9 points to spark the rally for St. Joseph.

Evan Rider hit a 3-pointer and scored 7 points for Clay (7-13, 2-6).

The Panthers built their lead to its largest of the game after Rider hit a 3-pointer and sank a free throw to give Clay a 37-28 lead with 3:25 left in the third.

But an 8-0 run by the Flyers that featured 5 points from Whaley and a 3-point play from Barrett Waginger got St. Joseph to within one to close out the third and set up the finish.

Whaley finished with 22 points and 8 rebounds to lead the Flyers. Waginger had 18 points and 6 rebounds.

Rider scored 21 points and Woods 14 to pace the Panthers.

Ports. Clay 18 12 7 11 4 = 52

St. Joseph 9 14 13 12 7 = 55

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (7-13, 2-6): Noah Woods 1 4 0-0 14, Bryce Whitley 0 0 1-2 1, Corey Williams 1 0 0 0-0 2, Evan Rider 5 3 2-2 21, Jackson Hannan 2 0 1-2 5, Eli Bailey 0 3 0-0 9. Totals: 9 10 4-6 52. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.

ST. JOSEPH (9-10, 6-3): Jack Whaley 1 0 0-2 1, Mason Weber 0 0 0-0 0, Eli Whaley 2 5 3-4 22, Barrett Waginger 2 4 2-3 18, Beckham Waginger 2 0 0-2 4, Zane Dressel 1 0 0-2 2, Carson Willis 2 0 0-0 4, Carter Johnson 1 0 1-4 3. Totals: 20-43 6-17 55. 3-pt goals: 9-18. Rebounds: 21 (E. Whaley 8, Ba. Waginger 6, Be. Waginger 5). Assists: 5. (E. Whaley 2). Steals: 3. Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: Willis.