Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — Guess who just made a mess of the Southern Ohio Conference I race?

The Symmes Valley Vikings opened up the title chase with a 35-33 upset of the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans on Tuesday.

Notre Dame is now tied for first with Beaver Eastern 5-1, Sciotoville East 4-1, and the Vikings jumped back into the race at 4-2. The Vikings play at East on Friday.

“We sure played some defense tonight. So did Notre Dame. Both teams were pretty patience on offense. I told the kids tonight we would win it tonight if we played defense,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders.

D.J. Miller scored 4 points in the first quarter as Symmes Valley took a 10-8 lead.

Five different players scored in the second quarter — Tyler Rowe and Miller had 4 each — as the Vikings pulled away to a 24-14 lead.

Each team scored 6 points in the third quarter and it was 30-20.

J.P. Kayser scored 6 points and Kevin Lewis had 5 as Notre Dame rallied to take a 32-30 lead.

But Miller hit a 3-pointer to put the Vikings back on top for good.

Leading 35-33, the Vikings missed the front end of a one-and-one with 11 seconds left and the Titans got the rebound. But the Vikings’ defense didn’t allow the Titans to score and get the win.

“We knew they would make some runs. The student section had to be acknowledged. They were into the game. It was exciting,” said Saunders.

“That was a big win and a big defensive win. We’ve been awful demanding and the kids have worked hard. We did a better job of taking care of the ball.”

Miller finished with 13 points for Symmes Valley (6-4). Rowe had 10 points.

Notre Dame (10-2) was led by J.P. Kayser with 14 points.

Notre Dame 8 6 6 13 = 33

Sym. Valley 10 14 6 5 = 35

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (10-2, 5-1): Kevin Lewis 1 2 0-0 8, Dakota Smith 2 0 0-0 4, Jack Kayser 0 0 0-0 0, Will Haney 0 0 0-0 0, J.P. Kayser 4 2 0-0 14, Adam Cooper 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Mader 1 0 1-4 3, Daniel Ogg 1 0 2-4 4. Totals: 9 4 3-8 33. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (6-4, 4-2): Alec Herrell 1 0 0-0 2, D.J. Miller 5 1 0-0 13, Austin Baldwin 2 0 0-1 4, Clayton Toney 1 0 0-0 2, Dylan Malone 1 0 2-2 4, Tyler Rowe 4 0 2-2 10. Totals” 14 1 4-5 35. Fouls: 7. Fouled out: None.