SCIOTOVILLE — Coach Alvin Carpenter must have been hearing Elvis singing “We’re Caught in a Trap” in his head all weekend.

Coming off a crucial win over league-leading Western and facing co-leader Portsmouth Clay on Friday, Carpenter warned his players that Tuesday’s Southern Ohio Conference contest at East was a “trap game.”

Fortunately for the Vikings they were able to overcome the Tartans and escape with a 62-57 win.

“I was worried about this one because of the big win we had last week and then playing Clay Friday. I thought we’d come in flat and we did,” Carpenter said.

Michael Humphrey scored 26 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead the Vikings (12-3, 9-2).

Kyle Meadows scored 19 points to go with 14 rebounds. Kirt Shipley had 10 points and Jacob Johnson dished out 6 assists.

East took a 14-13 lead despite 9 points by Humphrey.

Meadows got 6 points in the second quarter as Symmes Valley came back to tie the game at the break, 28-28.

Shipley dropped in 8 points in the third quarter as the Vikings pulled away to a 43-37 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Meadows and Humphrey scored 6 points each as the Vikings kept their lead. Tyler Smith, Shipley and Humphrey combined for 8 of 10 from the foul line to seal the win.

“East never quit. We’d get up 8 or 10 points and they’d cut the lead back down,” Carpenter said.

Nathan Williams scored 18 points, Chase Dickerson 11 and John Luther 10 to lead East (2-13, 1-10).

Sym. Valley13151519=62

Ports. East1414920=57

SYMMES VALLEY (12-3, 9-2): Tyler Smith 0 0 2-2 2, Brice Sexton 1 0 0-1 2, Jacob Johnson 1 0 1-2 3, Kirt Shipley 4 0 2-4 10, Chris Capper 0 0 0-1 0, Kyle Meadows 8 0 3-5 19, Michael Humphrey 7 1 9-16 26. Totals: 22-43

17-31

62. 3-point goals: 1-4). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 42 (Meadows 14, Humphrey 14). Assists: 10 (Johnson 6). Steals: 10 (Humphrey 4, Johnson 2, Sexton 2). Turnovers: 15. Blocked shots: 4 (Meadows 3, Humphrey 1).

PORTSMOUTH EAST (2-13, 1-10): Nathan Williams 3 3 3-3 18, Chase Mault 1 0 0-0 2, Tyler Mault 2 0 0-0 4, Chase Dickerson 1 3 0-1 11, Brad Collins 3 0 1-1 7, Adam Jones 1 0 2-2 4, John Luther 4 0 2-2 10, Brian Collins 0 0 1-2 1. Totals: 15

6

9-11

57. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Luther.