Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

ROCKSPRINGS — There have been several times this season that the Symmes Valley Vikings had trouble finding their offense.

Well, it got lost again on Wednesday.

The Vikings struggled to score as they lost to the No. 3-seed Waterford Wildcats 58-37 in the Division IV sectional finals.

“We just couldn’t match them from the beginning. We had too many turnovers, we gave up too many offensive rebounds and then they hit a few 3s and separate. We just couldn’t come up with the offense tonight. Nobody could bust out,” said Vikings’ coach Donnie Saunders whose team was guilty of 21 turnovers.

“Waterford has a nice team, no doubt about that. They really hurt us on the glass. They got some putbacks on us.”

The Vikings were led by Collin Webb with seven points with Shawn Belville and Laken Gothard getting six each.

Waterford (18-4) had three players in double figures. Tyler McCutcheon scored 16, Wyatt Lang 13 and Jordan Welch 10.

Isaac Huffman, Welch and Lang scored four points each as Waterford took a 16-5 first quarter lead.

The Vikings’ offense found itself in the second quarter as Jarod Sheppard scored all five of his points and Derrek Smith hit a 3-pointer.

But Bryce Hilverding, Welch and McCutcheon all hit 3-pointers as the Wildcats took a 37-18 halftime lead.

The Vikings’ offense was MIA again in the third quarter as Waterford pulled away to a 53-23 lead.

Gothard got all six of his points in the fourth quarter and Payton Hayes added a 3-pointer as the Vikings outscored the Wildcats 14-5.

The Vikings end the season 9-14 and will lose seniors Collin Webb, Shawn Belville and Derrek Smith.

“This was a good group to work with. They worked hard and came on in the second half of the season and made things real respectable. The seniors had a big part in that. They had a lot of character. I was proud of all our players,” said Saunders.

Sym. Valley 5 13 5 14 = 37

Waterford 16 21 16 5 = 58

SYMMES VALLEY (9-14): Levi Cade 0 0 1-2 1, Chayden Renfroe 1 0 0-0 2, Collin Webb 3 0 1-2 7, Shawn Belville 2 0 2-4 6, Derik Brace 0 0 0-0 0, Payton Hayes 1 1 0-0 5, Derrek Smith 1 1 0-0 5, Nick Klaiber 0 0 0-0 0, Laken Gothard 3 0 0-0 6, Austin Mannon 0 0 0-0 0, Hunter Adams 0 0 0-0 0, Jarod Sheppard 1 1 0-0 5, Brock Carpenter 1 0 0-0 2. Totals: 12 3 4-8 37. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

WATERFORD (18-4): Cody Harris 2 0 0-1 4, Jordan Welch 2 2 0-0 10, Isaac Huffman 2 0 0-0 4, Bryce Hilverding 1 1 2-2 7, Montana Brooker 0 0 0-0 0, Tyler McCutcheon 4 2 2-2 16, Noah Hilverding 0 0 0-0 0, Dalton Shriver 0 0 0-0 0, Wyatt Lang 6 0 1-7 13, Andrew Thieman 0 0 0-0 0, Travis Pottmeyer 1 0 0-0 2, Riley Burns 1 0 0-1 2. Totals: 19 5 5-13 58. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.