By Stephen Glover
For the Call

As the 2018-2019 boys basketball season enters its final month of regular play, Lindbergh is proving to be one of the better programs in the area.

The Flyers (10-6) proved that on Jan. 15 with a 49-42 win at home against Mehlville. The win against the Panthers (12-5) was a complete turnaround from Lindbergh’s 51-39 loss to Mehlville on Dec. 27 in the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament at St. Louis Community College-Meramec.

“Our guys keep getting better and better each week,” Lindbergh head coach Jason Wolfard said. “We guarded them (Mehlville) really well on defense, and it was just a matter of us making the right plays at the right time that night.”

Lindbergh’s Kieran Conboy led the Flyers with 18 points and seven rebounds. The senior guard is averaging 11.5 points and 3.7 rebounds a game this season.

“Kieran’s been a guy that we’ve had to rely on a bit this season,” Wolfard said. “He did a really good job being patient and not forcing his moments when he had them available to him.”

Senior forward Adam Bell also scored in double digits as he racked up 11 points and three rebounds. Bell was deadly from the 3-point line as he scored nine points from the outside.

“Adam keeps continuing to hit those big outside shots,” Wolfard said. “We’re going to continue to look towards him to be that outside threat for us.”

The loss for Mehlville marked their third setback in the past five games.

“Lindbergh has good size and they gave us a lot of trouble,” Mehlville head coach Andy Guethle said. “You’ve got to give them credit because they ran a good and patient offense that was really physical.”

Mehlville senior guard Jai’ryn Pruitt led the Panthers with 14 points, five rebounds and four steals.

Also scoring in double figures were junior center Davion Bradford (13) and junior guard King Waller (13). The game was Waller’s first of the season after being sidelined since football season due to a foot injury.

“King has got a little junkyard dog in him, and it’s good to see him back in the lineup after breaking his foot during football season,” Guethle said.

“Davion protected the rim really well, and I think that his timing is getting better and better.”

The Flyers are back on the hardwood next week as they travel to McCluer (11-5) for a 5:30 p.m. meeting with the Comets Tuesday, Jan. 29. Lindbergh is hoping to avenge a 43-25 loss to the Comets on Jan. 10.

“They’re a very good team,” Wolfard said. “We played them a little over a week ago and their pressure really got to us.”

Mehlville returns to action this week as they host McCluer South Berkeley at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25. The Bulldogs (5-9) are riding a two-game win streak with victories over Affton and Oakville.

“McCluer South is an athletic team that will pressure us,” Guethle said. “We’re going to have to attack them and rebound the ball well in order to be successful.”