Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

FRANKLIN FURNACE — It was like the Three Musketeers plus five.

Eight different players scored and Symmes Valley converted 33 of 46 free throw attempts as the Vikings beat the Green Bobcats 69-59 on Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

Payton Hayes scored 15 points to lead five players in double figures. Jacob Klaiber scored 11 points while Josh Dial, Collin Webb and Jared Sheppard had 10 points each.

“We’ve had good balance as of late. We’ve got guys who are capable of scoring and we have some kids who can be even bigger scorers,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders.

‘They’re to the place now that if they cut down on the turnovers they can play with all these teams. They’re trying, they’re playing hard and they’re playing better.”

Green had four players in double figures led by Ryan Gaffney with 16. Andy Chavarria scored 13, Josh Karshner had 12 points on four 3-pointers and Mark Allen added 11 points.

A total of 49 fouls were whistled and the teams combined to shoot 72 free throws.

Hayes scored 7 points and Webb 5 to offset 6 points by Chavarria as the Vikings took an 18-10 lead.

The Vikings outscored the Bobcats 16-8 in the second quarter to go in front 34-18 at the half.

Symmes Valley opened up a 20-point lead in the third quarter before Green cut the deficit back to 16 points at 47-31 to end the quarter.

Gaffney had 9 points and Karshner drilled three trifectas in the fourth quarter as the Bobcats got within 10 points.

But Hayes went 8 of 8 at the line and the Vikings were 16 of 18 as a team in the quarter to preserve the win.

“Our foul shooting really helped us out. You have to make those shots in a game like this,” said Saunders.

On Tuesday in SOC games, Symmes Valley visits Beaver Eastern and Green hosts Portsmouth Notre Dame.

Sym. Valley 18 16 13 22 = 69

Green 10 8 13 28 = 59

SYMMES VALLEY (3-11, 2-7): Josh Dial 4 0 2-2 10, Collin Webb 1 1 5-6 10, Shawn Belville 1 0 3-4 5, Blake Sells 1 0 0-0 2, Payton Hayes 2 1 8-10 15, Jacob Klaiber 2 0 7-14 11, Matt Rutt 2 0 2-2 6, Jared Sheppard 2 0 6-8 10. Totals: 15 2 33-46 69. Fouls: 22. Fouled out: Klaiber.

GREEN (NA): Mark Allen 4 0 3-7 11, Ryan Gaffney 5 0 6-8 16, Hunter Lewis 1 0 2-5 4, Andy Chavarria 4 1 2-4 13, Alex Hughes 1 0 0-0 2, Malik Lowry 0 0 1-2 1, Josh Karshner 0 4 0-0 12. Totals: 15 5 14-26 59. Fouls: 27. Fouled out: None.