Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — Just when it looked like the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings were about to pull off a major upset, they stopped doing what they were doing.

After build as much as a 13-ponit lead in the fourth quarter, the Lady Vikings couldn’t hang on as the Western Lady Indians rallied for a 56-48 Southern Ohio Conference win on Monday.

The biggest problem facing the Lady Vikings was their shooting. They were 12 of 53 from the field for just 23 percent.

“We did a nice job defensively. We just couldn’t put 32 minutes together,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Brandon Walker.

“We had a 13-point lead late and they pressured us and we got a little flustered. We have to get mentally stronger and clean up some small messes and things will start coming together.”

Breanna Brumfield had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists to lead the Lady Vikings (1-6, 1-4). Meranda Hayes had 10 points and Kaitlyn Payne 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals.

Chrissy Woods scored 15 points, Mallorie Williams 13 and Erin Brewster 11 for Western (7-0).

Western was 17 of 35 from the line while Symmes Valley was 15 of 25.

“We did a nice job on the boards but the big girl for them was in foul trouble,” said Walker. “But we couldn’t keep our hands to ourselves. It was kind of like the Portsmouth Clay game.”

Brumfield scored 9 points including a pair of 3-pointers as Symmes Valley took an 11-4 first quarter lead. Elly Fulks and Payne scored 5 each in the second quarter and it was 29-20 at the half.

Kelsey Massie and Hayes had 4 points each for the Lady Vikings and it was 41-32 after three quarters.

But in the fourth quarter, Woods scored 8 points and Western was 7 of 15 from the line as they outscored the Lady Vikings 22-7 to rally for the win.

Western 4 16 12 22 = 56

Sym. Valley 11 18 12 7 = 48

WESTERN (7-0): Haley Knauff 0 0 1-4 1, Erin Brewster 3 0 5-8 11, C.C. Shanks 3 0 3-9 9, Mallorie Williams 3 0 7-10 13, Kaylee Shepherd 2 0 0-2 4, Kylie Tong 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 19 0 17-35 56. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (1-6, 1-4): Kaitlyn Crabtree 0 0 0-0 0, Sierra Ross 0 0 1-2 1, Breanna Brumfield 1 2 3-5 11, Elly Fulks 1 1 2-4 7, Meranda Hayes 5 0 0-0 10, Kaitlyn Payne 1 0 3-6 5, Kelsey Massie 2 0 5-6 9, Maddie Scott 2 0 0-2 4, Jensyn Shepherd 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-53 15-25 48. 3-point goals: 3-9. Rebounds: 17-O, 22-D = 39 (Payne 10, Brumfield 6). Assists: 10 (Fulks 3, Brumfield 3, Payne 3). Steals: 11 (Payne 4, Fulks 4). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 28. Fouled out: Brumfield.