PORTSMOUTH — Symmes Valley Vikings coach Alvin Carpenter knew it would be tough to outscore the Portsmouth Clay Panthers.

It was even tougher because the Vikings took just 41 shots.

The lack of opportunity sealed the deal for the Vikings who lost 69-35 to the Panthers Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“Clay is a pretty good team. They played well,” Carpenter said. “But we won’t shoot the ball. They played a zone and gave us opportunities, but we just aren’t taking enough good shots.”

Derrick Webb had 16 poitns to lead four players in double figures for Clay (5-1). West Virginia signee Cam Thoroughman had 13 points, Ryan Cucore 11 and Justin Craft 10.

The Vikings (2-5) were led by Kirt Shipley with 12 points and Michael Humphreys with 10 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

Kyle Meadows had eight points, nine rebounds and three steals.

Cucore scored six points in the first quarter as Clay took a 13-5 lead.

Thoroughman got six more points in the second quarter and the Clay lead was 35-14.

The Panthers stretched the lead to 56-27 after three quarters and Webb got eight points in the fourth quarter as Clay won going away.

Sym. Valley59138=35

Ports. Clay13222113=69

SYMMES VALLEY (2-5, 2-2): Tyler Smith 0 0 0-0 0, Kirt Shipley 2 2 2-2 12, Chris Capper 1 0 0-0 2, Seth Saunders 0 0 1-3 1, Kyle Meadows 3 0 2-6 8, Justin Wiseman 1 0 0-0 2, Michael Humphreys 2 1 3-4 10, Matt Owens 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-41

(3)

8-15

35. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 29 (Humphreys 10, Meadows 9). Turnovers: 23. Assists: 6 (Humphreys 3). Steals: 9 (Meadows 3, Shipley 3).

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (5-1, 3-0): Cam Thoroughman 3 2 1-3 13, Derrick Webb 4 2 2-4 16, Mike Thacker 1 0 0-0 2, Justin Craft 5 0 0-1 10, Kent Robnson 2 1 0-0 7, Ryan Cucore 5 0 1-2 11, Doran Martin 1 0 0-2 2, Matt Stroud 0 2 0-0 6, Shane Keen 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 21

7

5-14

69. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.