Bad third quarter proves costly as Vikings fall to East

Published 12:00 am Saturday, February 7, 2004

WILLOW WOOD - One bad apple does spoil the whole bunch.

A disastrous third quarter proved to be the difference as the league-leading Portsmouth East Tartans beat the Symmes Valley Vikings 59-53 Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

The Vikings led by seven at the half, then managed just seven points in the third quarter as East stormed back to take the lead.

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"We dominated the first half. That was probably the best half we've played all season," Vikings coach Alvin Carpenter said.

"But the third quarter we couldn't buy a basket and they couldn't miss. We outplayed them for three quarters, but that one quarter was too much."

Behind five points by Jared Shafer in the first quarter, Symmes Valley moved in front 17-11. Shafer had six more in the second quarter to offset six for East's Andrew Conley and Symmes Valley was up 30-23 at the break.

But three turnovers by the Vikings ignited East in the third quarter. Conley scored eight more points and East outscored the Vikings 18-7 to take a 41-37 lead.

Kyle Gilmore had five of the Vikings seven points in the quarter.

Shafer and Conley matched each other with six points in the fourth quarter, but the Vikings were forced to foul and East converted 10 of 14 from the line to seal the win.

Shafer led the Vikings with 17 points and eight rebounds. Gilmore had 14 points including four 3-pointers, Michael White got eight points and eight rebounds, and Chris Elswick had eight assists and three steals.

Conley led all scorers with 22 points. Josh Hoskins scored 15 points and J.D. King 12 for East (13-3, 9-1).

Symmes Valley (7-8, 6-4) hosts New Boston Monday in a makeup game.

Prts. East11121818-59

Sym. Valley1713716-53

PORTSMOUTH EAST (13-3, 9-1): Dan Downing 1 0 1-2 3, Brett Enz 1 0 0-2 2, Andrew Conley 9 0 4-4 22, Josh Hoskins 2 1 8-10 15, Travis Riggs 2 0 1-2 5, J.D. King 3 1 3-6 12. Totals: 18

2

17-26

59. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (7-8, 6-4):

Chris Elswick 1 1 0-0 5, Kyle Gilmore 0 4 2-2 14, Craig Neal 1 0 0-0 2, Chase Higgins 0 0 0-2 0, Seth Colegrove 3 0 0-2 6, Jarred Shafer 1 5 0-0 17, Michael White 4 0 0-0 8, Justin Holland 0 0 1-2 1, Cory Burcham 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-57

(10-29)

3-8

53. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Gilmore, Holland. Rebounds: 28 (Shafer 8, White 8). Assists: 16 (Elswick 8). Steals: 4 (Elswick 3). Turnovers: 9.