WELLSTON — If you’re supposed to learn from your mistakes, the Symmes Valley Vikings might be fast learners.

The Vikings lost to the Beaver Eastern Eagles 92-47 on Friday. The two

teams met Wednesday in the Division IV sectional finals and the Vikings were heavy underdogs again.

But this time the Vikings didn’t listen to the oddsmakers.

Refusing to give in, Symmes Valley stayed within striking distance until midway through the fourth quarter before losing 83-67.

“I was proud of them after the way we got beat on Friday. We got down 11 and we could have got down, but we sucked it up pretty good,” Vikings coach Alvin Carpenter said.

“The game was a lot closer than the final score. They stretched it out at the end and then we subbed out.”

Eastern made 10 3-pointers including four by A.J. Osborne in the first quarter that gave Eastern a 26-15 lead.

“We didn’t want them to get a big lead early and they did. We played pretty well. They hit some shots and that’s why they’re a good team,” Carpenter said.

The Vikings trailed just 41-34 at the half.

Michael Humphreys, who twisted an ankle in the first half, scored seven points in the third quarter as Symmes Valley closed the gap to 45-44 and had the ball only to miss a shot. Zach Alexander took over and scored six straight — 12 in the quarter — to put Eastern up 59-48.

Alexander finished with 28 points to lead Eastern (18-3). Osborne scored 17, Adam Bond 16 and Eric Gullett added 11.

Humphreys had 16 points and six assists for Symmes Valley (10-12). Seth Saunders had 10 points and seven rebounds, Matt Owens scord 10 points and Chris Capper also pulled down seven boards.

Sym. Valley15191418=67

Eastern26151824=83

SYMMES VALLEY (10-12):

Tyler Smith 1 0 2-2 4, Brice Sexton 1 0 1-1 3, Jacob Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Kirt Shipley 0 1 0-0 3, Chris Capper 2 0 1-2 5, Seth Saunders 5 0 0-1 10, Kyle Meadows 3 0 3-4 9, Matt Owens 3 1 1-4 10, Michael Humphreys 5 2 0-0 16, Alex Burnett 1 0 2-3 4, Jerry Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, John Combs 0 0 0-0 0, Justin Wiseman 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 26-54

(4-12)

10-17

67. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 28 (Capper 7, Saunders 7). Turnovers: 16. Assists: 15 (Humphreys 6, Smith 5). Steals: 5 (five with 1). Blocked shots: 2 (Meadows 2).

BEAVER EASTERN (18-3): Zach Alexander 8 3 3-3 28, A.J. Osborne 0 5 2-2 17, Eric Gullett 4 1 0-0 11, Brian Osborne 0 1 0-0 3, Gary Eggell 0 0 2-2 2, Aaron Polland 0 0 0-1 0, Adam Bond 7 0 2-3 16, Josh Hagler 3 0 0-0 6, Cody Alley 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22

10

9-11

83. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.