Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — The Symmes Valley Vikings knew what they had to do, it was just easier said than done.

The Vikings knew playing against the Sciotoville East Tartans meant facing 6-foot-9 Patrick Bias. They didn’t adjust well enough as East beat Symmes Valley 55-46 Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“They have the 6-9 kid inside and he’s intimidating, so you have to shoot the ball well,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders. “We had the shots, we just didn’t shoot the ball well.”

The Vikings didn’t shoot the ball well from the foul line, either. They were just 4 of 7 while East converted 13 of 19 attempts including 10 of 11 in the fourth quarter.

“They did a good job making free throws, especially in the fourth quarter with the game on the line,” said Saunders.

D.J. Miller scored 16 points and Austin Baldwin 11 to lead the Vikings (1-1, 0-1).

Justin Crager and Tyler Bradford scored 17 points and Bias 14 to lead East (3-0, 1-0).

Crager scored just before the half as East took a 26-23 lead.

But Miller had 7 points in the third quarter as the Vikings got within 35-34.

Miller had 8 more points in the fourth quarter, but the Vikings were outscored 20-12 on the strength of East’s foul shooting.

Sciotoville East 16 10 9 20 = 55

Symmes Valley 13 10 11 12 = 46

SCIOTOVILLE EAST (3-0, 1-0): Jeremy Toller 0 0 0-0 0, Justin Crager 5 1 4-7 17, Shain Siebert 0 0 0-0 0, Hayden Russell 0 1 0-0 3, Brandon Walker 0 0 0-0 0, Dakota Walker 1 0 0-0 2, Tyler Bradford 6 0 5-8 17, Patrick Bias 5 0 4-4 14, Nick Basham 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 18 213-19 55. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (1-1, 0-1): Alec Herrell 0 0 0-0 0, Zane Wheeler 0 0 0-0 0, Dylan Pelletier 0 0 0-0 0, D.J. Miller 1 4 2-4 16, Jacob Graybeal 0 0 0-0 0, Tanner Conley 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Baldwin 5 0 1-1 11, Mitch Corn 2 0 0-0 4, Clayton Tony 1 0 1-2 3, Dylan Malone 2 0 0-0 4, Tyler Rowe 4 0 0-0 8. Totals: 15 4 4-7 46. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.