PORTSMOUTH - A loss has given the Symmes Valley Vikings a new outlook in the Southern Ohio Conference race.

Portsmouth Clay rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Vikings 53-45 Tuesday and put Symmes Valley's title hopes in a state of emergency.

The Vikings dropped to 6-5 overall but more importantly 4-2 in the SOC. Clay and Beaver Eastern lead the league at 6-0 and the two teams meet Friday.

"We're still not out of it, but we're looking at things differently now," Vikings coach Alvin Carpenter said.

Clay led 12-9 at the end of the first quarter, but Justin Ferguson scored 6 points in the second quarter as the Vikings pulled to within 22-20 at the break.

Symmes Valley came back to take a 32-31 lead after the third quarter, but Clay turned three turnovers into 7 points to begin the fourth quarter and take a 38-32 lead.

"Just those couple of mental mistakes cost us. You can't do that on the road," Carpenter said.

Cam Thoroughman scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to outscore the Vikings 22-13 and get the win.

"We did a good job on Thoroughman until the fourth quarter. But we had to foul and he hit some shots," Carpenter said.

Ferguson had 12 points and Chase Higgins 10 to lead the Vikings.

Thoroughman finished with 23 points and Derrick Webb added 11 for Clay.

Sym. Valley9111213-45

Prts. Clay1210922-53

SYMMES VALLEY (6-5, 4-2):

Craig Neal 2 0 0-0 4, Cory Burcham 1 0 0-0 2, Chase Higgins 4 0 2-6 10, Justin Ferguson 0 4 0-1 12, Kyle Meadows 0 0 1-2 1, Justin Holland 2 1 0-0 7, John Wiseman 1 0 0-0 2, Michael White 3 0 1-3 7, Derrek Cremeans 0 0 0-0 0, Matt Owens 0 0 0-0 0, Alex Burnett 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-45 (5-16)

4-12

45. Fouls: 25. Fouled out: None. Steals: 10 (Ferguson 3, Neal 3). Assists: 12 (Burcham 4, Holland 4). Rebounds: 18 (Meadows 5, Higgins 5). Turnovers: 21.

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (8-2, 6-0):

Cam Thoroughman 8 1 4-7 23, Chris Bihl 2 0 1-6 5, Justin Craft 1 0 2-4 4, Ryan Curcore 1 0 0-1 2, Kent Robertson 2 0 4-6 8, Derrick Webb 2 0 7-10 11. Totals: 16-36

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18-24

53. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.