WILLOW WOOD — They Symmes Valley Vikings have been off for the Christmas break like other schools.

However, unlike the other schools that played Friday night, the Vikings looked like they were still on vacation.

“We just went through the motions, especially in the third quarter. When you get out of your regular routine, you have a tendency sometimes to play without emotion or intensity,” Vikings coach Alvin Carpenter said.

Despite the uninspired play, the Vikings still had a chance to knock off the Panthers who remain unbeaten in the Southern Ohio Conference.

The Vikings had a one-point lead with three minutes to play only to commit a turnover and Clay converted to take the lead. After a missed shots, the Panthers scored again for a 3-point lead.

“Once they got the lead, they just went into that patient offense where they make a lot of passes and force you to come out on them and then eventually you have to foul,” Carpenter said.

Clay hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter to take a 15-10 lead.

Kyle Meadows scored 6 points in the second quarter as Symmes Valley battled back to take a 24-21 halftime lead.

But then five straight turnovers to begin the second half led to a 4-point quarter and Clay regained the lead at 33-28.

Michael Humphrey scored 9 points in the fourth quarter for the Vikings, but the Panthers converted 6 of 7 from the foul line over the final minute — Darren Martin was 3 of 3 and Ryan Cucore 3 of 4 — to hold onto the lead and get the win.

Humphrey had 18 points to lead the Vikings offense. Meadows got 11 points and 12 rebounds while Chris Capper grabbed 9 boards.

Kent Robinson led Clay with 15 points with Cucore adding 12.

Ports. Clay1561215=48

Sym. Valley1014414=42

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (4-3, 4-0): Kent Robinson 2 3 2-4 15, Ryan Cucore 3 1 3-4 12, Matt Stroud 0 2 0-0 6, Derrek Webb 1 0 1-2 3, Justin Craft 1 0 0-0 2, Darren Martin 1 1 3-3 8, Micah Redden 1 0 0-0 2. Total: 9

7

9-13

48. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

SYMMES VALLEY (4-3, 2-2):

Tyler Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Jacob Johnson 0 0 1-2 1, Kirt Shipley 1 2 0-0 8, Chris Capper 1 0 0-0 2, Matt Tibbs 0 0 0-0 0, Kyle Meadows 5 0 1-4 11, Michael Humphrey 6 1 3-4 18. Total: 17-42

4-10

42. 3-point goals: 3-12. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 28 (Meadows 12, Capper 9). Assists: 8 (Meadows 3). Steals: 2 (Matt Tibbs 2). Turnovers: 22. Blocked shots: 2 (Humphrey 1, Meadows 1).