Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — Where’s ODOT to fill in the potholes when you need them?

Symmes Valley fell behind early and couldn’t recover as the Vikings lost 70-54 to the Sciotoville East Tartans 70-54 on Thursday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“Turnovers hurt us early. We got in a hole and couldn’t climb out,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders. “We’ve got to do a better job of taking care of the ball.”

Collin Webb drained three 3-pointers as he scored 17 points to lead the Vikings (3-19, 2-11). Josh Dial scored 10 points and Jacob Klaiber added 8 points.

Akia Brown had a game-high 26 points and Blaine Scott got 20 to lead Sciotoville East. Nick Bashan chipped in 10 points.

Scott was 5-of-6 from the foul line as he scored 9 points and Brown added 6 points as East too a 23-14 first quarter lead.

Basham scored 6 points in the second quarter as the Tartans pulled ahead 39-25 at the half. Shawn Belville and Webb combined for 9 points in the quarter for the Vikings.

Scott matched Webb with 5 points in the third quarter as East extended its lead to 52-34.

Webb scored 6 points as the Vikings cut the deficit to 7 points in the fourth quarter, but Brown got the hot hand as he hit three 3-pointers en route to scoring 11 points as East maintained its 16-point lead.

The Vikings host New Boston on Saturday to close out the regular season.

Sciotoville 23 16 13 18 = 70

Sym. Valley 14 11 9 18 = 54

SCIOTOVILLE EAST (NA): Blaine Scott 6 0 8-9 20, Michael Stiltner 2 0 2-2 6, Derek Lowe 1 0 2-2 4, Akia Brown 8 3 1-2 26, Dee Smith 2 0 0-0 4, Nick Basham 5 0 0-0 10. Totals: 24 3 13-15 70. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (3-19, 2-11): Josh Dial 2 2 0-0 10, Collin Webb 4 3 0-2 17, Shawn Belville 2 1 0-0 7, Blake Sells 0 0 3-5 3, Payton Hayes 2 0 1-1 5, Jacob Klaiber 4 0 0-0 8, Matt Rutt 1 0 0-2 2, Jarod Sheppard 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 16 6 4-10 54. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.