Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

MERCERVILLE — For coach Donnie Saunders, you can go home.

Saunders spent his career coaching in the South Gallia school district before retiring last year and returning to his alma mater as coach of the Symmes Valley Vikings.

In his first visit as the opposing coach, Saunders guided his team to a 51-44 win over the Rebels on Friday.

“It was loud, but the fans were well-behaved. I was proud of them,” said Saunders.

But Saunders was also proud of his own team. The Vikings held a 10-point lead at halftime but watched as the Rebels rallied to take the lead in the third quarter.

Symmes Valley tied the game at the end of the quarter and then pulled away to get the win in the fourth quarter.

“We gathered ourselves for the first time. Tyler Rowe hit some big free throws at the end. That was a good sign, especially on the road,” said Saunders.

Rowe had a game-high 23 points and 7 rebounds. Austin Baldwin had 12 points and 9 rebounds and D.J. Miller added 11 points and 4 assists for the Vikings (4-3).

Kody Lambert — who hit four 3-pointers — and Brayden Greer scored 12 each for the Rebels (3-4).

Baldwin and Rowe scored 6 points each in the first quarter as the Vikings took a 15-13 lead.

Miller hit a pair of 3-pointers and Rowe scored 6 more points in the second quarter as Symmes Valley opened up a 29-19 lead.

Lambert made a pair of 3-pointers for all of the Rebels’ points in the quarter.

Lambert hit two 3-pointers and Greer added another trey as the Rebels outscored the Vikings 16-6 in the third quarter and it was 35-35.

But Rowe scored 11 points in the fourth quarter including 5 of 6 at the foul line.

The Vikings were 21 of 41 from the field including 4 of 10 from behind the arc.

“We did a good job of not forcing our shots,” said Saunders.

Sym. Valley 15 14 6 16 = 51

South Gallia 13 6 16 7 = 42

SYMMES VALLEY (4-3): Alec Herrell 0 0 0-0 0, D.J. Miller 1 3 0-3 11, Austin Baldwin 6 0 0-0 12, Mitch Corn 0 0 0-0 0, Clayton Toney 0 0 0-2 0, Dylan Malone 0 1 0-0 3, Seth Jarrell 1 0 0-0 2, Tyler Rowe 9 0 5-7 23. Totals: 21-41 5-12 51. 3-point goals: 4-10. Rebounds: 27 (Baldwin 9, Rowe 7). Assists: 6 (Miller 4). Steals: 7 (Herrell 4). Turnovers: 20. Blocked shots: 3 (Toney 2). Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH GALLIA (3-4): Landon Hutchinson 1 0 0-0 2, Brayden Greer 3 1 4-7 12, C.J. Johnston 1 0 0-0 2, Michael Wheeler 1 0 0-0 2, Alex Stapleton 1 0 0-0 2, Gus Slone 0 0 0-0 0, Kody Lambert 0 4 0-1 12, Ethan Swain 3 1 0-0 9. Totals: 10 6 4-8 42. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Green (4th).