Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — Going against Wyatt Earp is tough. Going against him and his brothers is nearly impossible.

That’s how the Symmes Valley Vikings felt Tuesday in an 82-63 Southern Ohio Conference loss to the Portsmouth Clay Panthers.

“We didn’t play bad, Clay just out-shot us,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders.

“We were only down four at the half, but they hit one little spurt to start the second half and that was the difference. They can do that real quick with all the shooters they have.”

Clay (10-3, 5-3) put three players in double figures led by Cameron King with a 33 points to outscore the Vikings. Cole Gilliland scored 23 points and Brody Riffe added 13.

The Vikings (4-9, 2-6) also had three players in double figures led by Shawn Belville with 20 points and six rebounds. Collin Webb scored 16 points and Payton Hayes had 14 points. Jarod Sheppard grabbed eight rebounds.

Belville and Hayes combined for 11 points and the game was tied at 17 in the first quarter. Gilliland scored seven for Clay while Nate Hinze and Riffe had five each.

King got hot and scored 13 points in the second quarter to give Clay a 36-32 halftime lead. Hayes hit a pair of 3-pointers and Belville scored five points in the quarter for the Vikings.

Belville and Webb teamed up for 12 points in the third quarter but King scored 12 on his own as Clay built a 63-46 lead.

King scored eight points and Clay made 11-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter. Webb hit two 3-pointers and scored eight points for the Vikings.

The Vikings host Green on Friday in a league game.

Sym. Valley 17 15 14 17 = 63

Ports. Clay 17 19 27 19 = 82

SYMMES VALLEY (4-9, 2-6): Levi Cade 0 0 0-0 0, Collin Webb 0 4 4-4 16, Shawn Belville 8 0 4-8 20, Cameron Meadows 0 0 0-0 0, Derrek Smith 0 0 0-0 0, Payton Hayes 2 3 1-2 14, Nate Klaiber 0 0 0-0 0, Nathan Gothard 0 1 0-0 3, Austin Mannon 0 0 0-0 0, Hunter Adams 0 0 1-2 1, Forrest Humphrey 0 0 0-0 0, Jarod Sheppard 3 0 1-2 7, Brock Carpenter 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 14 8 11-18 63. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (10-3, 5-3): Jordan Collier 0 0 0-0 0, Caleb Cline 0 0 0-0 0, Brody Riffe 2 3 0-0 13, Cole Gilliland 4 4 3-3 23, Drew Hadsell 0 0 0-0 0, Cameron King 5 4 11-12 33, Anthony Williams 2 0 0-1 4, Jared Meade 1 0 0-0 2, Nate Hinze 3 0 1-2 7. Totals: 17 11 15-18 82. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.