WILLOW WOOD — The shots finally started to drop. And so did the expectations of Symmes Valley coach Alvin Carpenter.

But despite blowing a big early lead, the Vikings held off a furious rally by the Coal Grove Hornets to post a win.

“They hit a couple of 3s in the fourth quarter and we couldn’t make free throws,” Carpenter said. “It’s the end of the season and we should be able to shut them down for a change.”

Coal Grove took an 18-6 lead to start the game and was up 21-13 at the end of the quarter as Evan Melvin scored eight points. Matt Owens had eight points for the Vikings.

Symmes Valley used six points by Seth Saunders to outscore the Hornets 18-8 in the second quarter and take a 31-29 lead.

Michael Humphreys led a 22-point offensive surge in the third quarter that extended the Vikings lead to 53-40 lead.

But Coal Grove refused to quit.

Randy Wise hit three treys and scored 15 points in the fourth quarter while Zach Murphy hit a pair of 3-pointers to rally the Hornets (6-13).

The Vikings made only 4 of 10 foul shots and missed another 11 layups or putbacks in the quarter but managed to survive as Kyle Meadows scored eight points.

Humphreys scored 23 points to lead the Vikings (9-10). Meadows had 12 points and Matt Owens 11 points.

Wise paced four Hornets in double figures with 19 points. Evan Melvin scored 15 points, Adam Bare 12 and Murphy 10.

“It was Senior Night and all the seniors got to play and they went out with a bang,” Carpenter said.

Coal Grove2181125=65

Sym. Valley13182216=69

COAL GROVE (6-13): Zach Murphy 2 2 0-0 10, Evan Melvin 4 2 1-3 15, Matt Melvin 2 0 3-6 7, Randy Wise 2 3 6-7 19, Tyler Branch 1 0 0-0 2, Adam Bare 5 0 2-5 12, Chris Dirling 0 0 0-0 0, Zach Slone 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16

7

12-21

65. Fouls: 22. Fouled out: Bare, E. Melvin, M. Melvin.

SYMMES VALLEY (9-10): Tyler Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Chris Capper 4 0 0-0 8, Seth Saunders 3 0 0=1-4 7, Kyle Meadows 5 0 2-4 12, Matt Owens 1 2 3-4 11, Michael Humphreys 8 0 7-13 23, Alex Burnett 3 0 0-2 6, Justin Wiseman 0 0 0-0 0, Kirt Shipley 0 0 0-0 0, Jerry Johnson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25

2

13-27

69. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 54 (Meadows 14, Humphreys 12). Turnovers: 16. Assists: 13 (Humphreys 6). Steals: 9 (Capper 3, Owens 3).