Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — It’s starting to sound like a broken record, and Symmes Valley coach Donnie Saunders doesn’t like the tune.

The young Vikings had a chance to win yet another game on Tuesday only to watch the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans rally for a 49-44 Southern Ohio Conference win.

“We’re close, but we have to cut those turnovers down,” said Saunders.

“I keep saying we’re close, but that’s still not a win. We have to find a way to make those plays at the end of a game and get a win.”

The Vikings trailed 31-16 at the half and 39-29 after three quarters.

But they rallied to take a 4-43 lead late in the game only to have two costly turnovers that led to baskets by Hattachai Buttayotee that gave the Titans a 47-44 lead and they held on for the win.

C.J. Smith scored 21 points to lead the Titans while Buttayotee added 13.

Payton Hayes scored 13 points, Jacob Klaiber had 10 points and Matt Rutt added 9 points for the Vikings (2-9, 1-5).

Hayes had 5 points and the Vikings trailed 11-10 after the first quarter. Klaiber got all 6 of the Vikings’ points in the second quarter as they fell behind at the half.

Hayes scored 5 points in the third quarter as Symmes Valley got within 10 points, and Klaiber and Rutt had 4 points each in the fourth quarter comeback.

The Vikings visit Sciotoville East on Friday in a SOC game.

Notre Dame 11 20 8 10 = 49

Sym. Valley 10 6 13 15 = 44

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (7-4, 3-3): Isaiah Johnson 3 0 2-2 8, Trevon Turner 2 0 3-5 7, Hayden Phillips 0 0 0-0 0, Tyson Montgomery 0 0 0-0 0, Jonathan Major 0 0 0-0 0, Hattachai Buttayotee 5 1 0-0 13, Andy Bazler 0 0 0-0 0, C.J. Smith 6 3 2-4 21, Evan Coriell 0 0 0-2 0. Totals: 11 4 7-13 49. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (2-9, 1-5): Josh Dial 0 0 0-0 0, Collin Webb 2 0 0-0 4, Shawn Belville 1 0 0-0 2, Blake Sells 0 2 0-0 6, Payton Hayes 2 3 0-0 13, Jase Patterson 0 0 0-0 0, Devin Eplin 0 0 0-0 0, Jacob Klaiber 4 0 2-3 10, Matt Rutt 3 0 3-6 9, Jarod Shepherd 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 6 5-9 44. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.