Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — The Symmes Valley Vikings were short-handed, but that didn’t stop them from handling the situation.

Missing starters Austin Baldwin and Alec Herrell with ankle injuries and third starter Tyler Rowe playing despite being sick, the Vikings defense shut down the Portsmouth Clay Panthers 46-35 Tuesday in a Southern Ohio Conference I game.

“Not having Baldwin slowed us down and not having Herrell hurt because he makes things happen,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders.

“The offense was sluggish but the defense was still there. You can’t control those other factors, but you can control how you play defense.”

Rowe still scored 13 points to lead the Vikings (9-5, 7-2). Dylan Malone scored 10 points and Clayton Toney added 9.

Rowe, Toney and Malone had 4 points each in the first quarter as Symmes Valley raced to a 15-4 lead.

“They got us off to a good start. We should have scored more. We had some opportunities. But defense won it for us again,” said Saunders.

The Vikings led 25-12 at the half. And it was 35-20 after three quarters.

Symmes Valley plays at Green Friday in a league game.

Portsmouth Clay 4 8 8 15 = 35

Symmes Valley 15 10 10 11 = 46

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (4-11): Aaron Phipps 0 0 0-0 0, Conner Phipps 1 0 0-0 2, Zack Phillips 1 1 0-0 5, Tony Whitt 3 0 1-2 7, Eldin Sarajilic 4 0 0-0 8, Mark Shaffer 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor LaValley 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Schmidt 4 0 1-4 9, Mason Pelphrey 1 00-0 2, Jacob Crosier 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 15 1 2-6 35. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (9-5, 7-2): Johnathan Kouns 1 0 1-2 3, Zane Wheeler 0 0 0-0 0, Dylan Pelletier 2 0 0-0 4, D.J. Miller 1 1 2-3 7, Jacob Graybeal 0 0 0-0 0, Clayton Toney 4 0 1-2 9, Dylan Malone 4 0 2-4 10, Tyler Rowe 6 0 1-4 13. Totals: 18 1 7-15 46. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.