Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — The Symmes Valley Lady Vikings might want to employ their own weatherman to let them know when the temperature is going to change.

The Lady Vikings started hot, but a cold period in the second quarter enabled the Eastern Lady Eagles to build a 14-point halftime lead as they held on to beat Symmes Valley 62-51 Monday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“We went on a cold spell in the second quarter and had about a two-minute breakdown on defense,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Brandon Walker.

“We were down 14 at the half and we challenged them and they responded. That little period in the second quarter is what hurt us.”

Kalli Hunt scored 20 points to lead the Lady Vikings (4-8, 3-5). Meranda Hayes had 10 points in her first game of the season.

Cason Roney had a game-high 24 points for Eastern (10-2, 8-0). Kayla Alley scored 22 and Haley Stanley added 12.

After suffering a 76-41 loss earlier this season at Eastern, the Lady Vikings battled the Lady Eagles tough this time around.

“I’m not big on moral victories, but we lost by 35 at their place, so that was a great effort by our girls to come back and have a chance to win,” said Walker.

Roney scored 10 points in the first quarter to help offset seven by Hunt as Eastern took a 17-16 lead.

Alley had 12 points in the second quarter as the Lady Eagles held the Lady Vikings to seven points and it was 37-23 at the half.

Eastern led by 18 points early in the third quarter, but the Lady Vikings battle back to within seven points as Hunt and Hayes combined for 14 points.

Stanley had seven points in the fourth quarter including 5-of-6 at the foul line as Eastern stopped the comeback bid.

Eastern 17 20 7 18 = 62

Sym. Valley 16 7 14 14 = 51

BEAVER EASTERN (10-2): Paige Sanders 1 0 0-0 2, Haley Stanley 2 1 5-6 12, Carson Roney 10 0 4-6 24, Kayla Alley 5 2 6-10 22, Jenny Keppler 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 19 3 15-22 62. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Roney.

SYMMES VALLEY (4-8, 3-5): Autumn Keathley 1 0 0-0 2, Sierra Ross 2 0 0-0 4, Breanna Brumfield 0 2 0-0 6, Elly Fulks 1 1 1-2 6, Meranda Hayes 5 0 0-1 10, Kalli Hunt 6 0 8-12 20, Hannah Maynard 1 0 1-2 3, Athena Bruner 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 3 10-16 51. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Fulks.